The consumption of a varied diet rich in fruit and vegetables helps prevent and treat certain chronic diseases. The development of smoothies based on derivatives from fruit and vegetables rich in bioactive compounds can help increase the consumption of these foods, and therefore, contribute to the prevention of various health problems. However, during the processing of the fruit and vegetable smoothies, these properties may change.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFReduced absorption capacity in patients with intestinal resections (IR) could result in malabsorption of fat-soluble components like carotenoids, which are of clinical interest in relation to visual health. In this case cohort, we investigated the association between IR and serum lutein, zeaxanthin, β-carotene and macular pigment optical density, when compared with healthy controls. Ten patients with IR and twelve healthy controls were included in the study.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFDark green leafy vegetables are primary food sources for lutein and β-carotene, however these bioactives have low bioavailability. The effects of mechanical and thermal processing as well as fat addition and fat type on lutein and β-carotene liberation and in vitro accessibility from spinach were investigated. Lutein liberation and in vitro accessibility were three-fold higher from spinach puree compared to whole leaves.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAn improved UHPLC-DAD-based method was developed and validated for quantification of major carotenoids present in spinach, serum, chylomicrons, and feces. Separation was achieved with gradient elution within 12.5 min for six dietary carotenoids and the internal standard, echinenone.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFGreen-leafy vegetables are rich in nutritionally important constituents including carotenoids. Their potential health benefits depend among others on their liberation from the plant matrix. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of particle size and heat treatments on lutein and β-carotene liberation from spinach and Asia salads by applying an in vitro digestion protocol and UHPLC analysis.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFVarious secondary plant metabolites or phytochemicals, including polyphenols and carotenoids, have been associated with a variety of health benefits, such as reduced incidence of type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, and several types of cancer, most likely due to their involvement in ameliorating inflammation and oxidative stress. However, discrepancies exist between their putative effects when comparing observational and intervention studies, especially when using pure compounds. These discrepancies may in part be explained by differences in intake levels and their bioavailability.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFSpinach is an important dietary source of lutein and β-carotene. Their synthesis is closely linked to chlorophyll synthesis and dependent upon an adequate supply of sulfur and nitrogen. Soils may become sulfur-deficient during winter because microorganisms convert atmospheric SO2 less efficiently to sulfate.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFResistant starch type 2 (RS2) and type 3 (RS3) containing preparations were digested using a batch (a) and a dynamic in vitro model (b). Furthermore, in vivo obtained indigestible fractions from ileostomy patients were used (c). Subsequently these samples were fermented with human feces with a batch and a dynamic in vitro method.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFUnlabelled: There is a growing interest in highly fermentable dietary fibers having the potential to reduce risks of disease through the production of short-chain fatty acids (SCFA). Recently a digestion-resistant retrograded maltodextrin (RRM), classified as type 3 resistant starch was developed. Systematic work to determine its molecular and physiological properties was carried out to determine (1) the fraction resistant to digestion in vitro and in vivo, (2) its postconsumption effect on blood glucose in healthy volunteers, and (3) its in vitro fermentation pattern, at different ages, by use of pooled fresh human fecal inoculum.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFJ Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr
November 2006
Background: Colonisation of the human colon starts immediately after birth. Bacterial composition is substantially influenced by the type of feeding. During weaning, microbiota diversifies considerably to finally approach the composition of that of adults.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFMol Nutr Food Res
December 2006
The in vitro fermentability of two resistant starch preparations type 2 (RS2) and type 3 (RS3) was investigated using human colonic microbiota. Prior to the fermentation experiments, samples were digested using two in vitro models, a batch (ba) and a dynamic (dy), as well as an in vivo method (il) for RS3. Digestion residues were fermented in vitro using a simple batch model lasting 24 h and a more sophisticated dynamic model enduring 72 h.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Resistant starch (RS) is known for potential health benefits in the human colon. To investigate these positive effects it is important to be able to predict the amount, and the structure of starch reaching the large intestine.
Aim Of The Study: The aim of this study was to compare two different in vitro models simulating the digestibility of two RS containing preparations.
Erythritol, a naturally occurring polyol, is gaining attention as a bulk sweetener for human nutrition. Industrially, it is produced from glucose by fermentation. From various studies it is known to be non-cariogenic.
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