Inter-laboratory validation of the starch digestibility method for determination of rapidly digestible and slowly digestible starch.

The digestibility of starch in foods, which is influenced by the ingredients, formulation and preparation conditions, is a major determinant of glycaemic response. The terms rapidly digestible starch (RDS) and slowly digestible starch (SDS) along with the associated analytical methodology were developed by Englyst to characterise this nutritionally relevant food attribute. The measurement uncertainty of this starch digestibility method is evaluated here with an inter-laboratory trial.

Effects of exogenous proteases without or with carbohydrases on nutrient digestibility and disappearance of non-starch polysaccharides in broiler chickens.

The objective of the current study was to evaluate the effect of a subtilisin protease, without or with inclusion of carbohydrases, on digestibility and retention of energy and protein, as well as the solubilization and disappearance of non-starch polysaccharides (NSP) from corn-soybean meal based diets fed to broiler chickens. Two hundred eighty-eight Ross 308 male broiler chickens were used for the experiment. On d 14, the birds were weighed and allocated to 6 treatments and 8 replicates per treatment with 6 birds per replicate.

Evaluation of methods of analysis for dietary fibre using real foods and model foods.

Rationale And Objectives: There are several rational and empirical methods for the measurement of dietary fibre and its components. A selection of these methods were evaluated by investigation of a range of real foods and model foods with added resistant starch (RS), non-starch polysaccharides (NSP) and resistant oligosaccharide (RO) ingredients.

Methods: A range of rational methods were applied in determining specific carbohydrate constituents: RS, NSP and RO, including fructans.

Macronutrient absorption characteristics in humans with short bowel syndrome and jejunocolonic anastomosis: starch is the most important carbohydrate substrate, although pectin supplementation may modestly enhance short chain fatty acid production and fluid absorption.

Background: Diet may play an important role in the management of patients with short bowel syndrome who have colon in continuity. However, macronutrient absorption has not been well characterized, and the most appropriate dietary constituents have not been well defined.

Objective: To define carbohydrate absorption characteristics in patients with short bowel syndrome and determine the potential role of pectin as a dietary substrate.

Nutritional characterization and measurement of dietary carbohydrates.

Dietary carbohydrate characterization should reflect relevant nutritional and functional attributes, and be measured as chemically identified components. A nutritional classification based on these principles is presented, with a main grouping into 'available carbohydrates', which are digested and absorbed in the small intestine providing carbohydrates for metabolism, and 'resistant carbohydrates', which resist digestion in the small intestine or are poorly absorbed/metabolized. For the available carbohydrates, the chemical division into the starch and total sugars categories does not adequately reflect the physiological or nutritional attributes of foods.