Publications by authors named "Valentina Narducci"

The growing scientific evidence on the health benefits of whole-grain food consumption has promoted the manufacturing of a great number of products differing in quality and content of whole-grain components. This is particularly true for commercial wheat-based products where it is not always clear how much whole wheat is present considering that in many cases, they are manufactured from reconstituted mill streams and that there is not a standardised globally accepted definition and metrics to objectively evaluate whole-grain status. Attempts have been made to assess the level of "wholegraininess" in wheat products by measuring specific constituents that correlate with different wheat tissues, especially those that are expected to be found in a true whole-grain wheat product.

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Wholegrain soft wheat flours can be obtained by either roller milling or stone milling. In this paper, we report on the continuation of a study aimed at analysing compositional and technological differences between differently milled wholegrain flours. Eight mixes of soft wheat grains were stone milled and roller milled and the milling products analysed for their phytic acid, lipids composition to determine the presence of trans-fatty acids and damaged starch.

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This study aimed at understanding how the presence or absence of NaCl influences dough rheological performance of soft wheat cvs. currently used in the Italian bread manufacturing industry as a scientific support to national health strategies to reduce the use of NaCl in bread. For this reason 176 flour samples belonging to 41 soft wheat cvs.

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Wholegrain wheat flours are in great demand from consumers worldwide because they are considered healthier then refined flours. They can be obtained by either stone milling, which is experiencing a revival in Europe, or roller milling. In order to study compositional differences due to the milling technology and to explore the possibility of a better qualification of wholegrain flours by means of nutritionally oriented quality parameters, eight mixes of soft wheat grains were stone milled and roller milled and the milling products were analyzed for their protein, ash, lipids, total dietary fibre, total polyphenols and alkylresorcinols content.

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A functional bread tailored for the needs of the aging population was baked by substituting 24% of wheat flour with red lentil flour and compared with wheat bread. Its nutritional profile was assessed by analysing proteins, amino acids, lipids, soluble and insoluble dietary fibre, resistant starch, total polyphenols, lignans and the antioxidant capacity (FRAP assay). The wheat-lentil bread had 30% more proteins than wheat bread (8.

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The efficacy of two sodium reduction strategies in preserving sensory profile and consumer liking of yeasted wheat bread was tested, by combining sensory data, aroma compounds and consumer investigations. The use of (i) a reduced-sodium salt substitute, Pansalt® (NaCl 57%, other salts and minor ingredients) at 1.5%, and (ii) the heterogeneous NaCl distribution (average level of 1%) leading to enhanced saltiness by taste contrast, were compared with standard (1.

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The level of variation in lipids and their fatty acids was determined in the grains of 10 popular durum wheat cultivars commercially grown in Central and Southern Italy. Samples were harvested for two consecutive years to account for differences due to changes in climatic conditions. Total fat content was determined by means of the International Association of Cereal Science and Technology (ICC) Standard Method No.

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A nationwide survey on salt content in both artisanal and industrial bread was undertaken in Italy to establish a baseline for salt reduction initiatives. Excess sodium intake in the diet is associated with high blood pressure and the risk of cardiovascular diseases. Bread has been identified as a major contributor to salt intake in the Italian diet.

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Pasta and couscous are popular foods manufactured (in their traditional form) from durum wheat semolina. In recent years, the consumers' quest for novel, functional, gluten-free, wholegrain foods has prompted the industry to manufacture new pasta and couscous products in which durum wheat has been partially or totally replaced by other vegetable flours. Besides dietary fibre, these raw materials might be an interesting source of phytochemicals.

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Food industry is interested in the utilisation of legume flours for the improvement the nutritional quality of cereal based foods. In this context, this research aimed at investigating the beneficial properties of different commercial carob seed flours -Ceratonia siliqua L.-.

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