Grape Pomace as a Source of Phenolics for the Inhibition of Starch Digestion Enzymes: A Comparative Study and Standardization of the Efficacy.

The increase in the incidence of hyperglycemia and diabetes poses the challenge of finding cost-effective natural inhibitors of starch digestion enzymes. Among natural compounds, phenolics have been considered as promising candidates. The aims of this study were as follows: (a) to investigate the effectiveness of the inhibition of different winemaking byproducts towards intestinal brush border α-glucosidase and pancreatic α-amylase in vitro; (b) to calculate an efficacy index relative to the standard acarbose for the phenolic pool of winemaking byproducts, as well as for isolated phenolic compounds and for the phenolic pools of different plants studied in the literature, in order to rank winemaking byproducts with respect to the reference drug and other natural alternatives.

Raisin as a Functional Food: Antioxidant and Antiglycation Activity Assessed by Model Systems.

Raisin can be used a substitution of artificially sweetened snacks/ingredients, in order to counteract the increasing consumption of sugar-added foods, which is associated to adverse health effects. The aim of this study was to investigate the phenolic content, reducing capacity and antiglycation activities of traditional, sun-dried raisin samples obtained from six Tunisian varieties. Total phenolics were determined by the Folin Ciocalteu assay, proanthocyanidins by depolymerisation with n-butanol/HCl, monomeric and dimeric flavanols, flavonols and anthocyanins by HPLC with diode array and fluorimetric detectors.

Certified Food Safety Management Systems Assessed through the Lenses of Food Safety Culture and of Control: A Pilot Study.

The approach to ensure food safety (FS) has evolved, including the concept of FS culture, which has been shaped by both the legislation and the scientific literature. In this study, two companies that produce foods associated with potential risks of cross-contamination (gluten-free foods and frozen pastry, respectively) and are certified according to international voluntary FS standards, such as the British Retail Council Global Standard (BRC) and the International Featured Standards Food Version (IFS), were investigated to assess: (a) if the assessment of FS culture's pillars can uncover unexpected critical areas; (b) if the scores of the FS culture's pillars are related to personal traits, namely, age, seniority in the company and of control orientation, i.e.

Hydration and Fortification of Common Bean ( L.) with Grape Skin Phenolics-Effects of Ultrasound Application and Heating.

Ultrasound (US)-assisted soaking combined with fortification with red grape skin (GS) phenolics was applied on two varieties, namely White Kidney Bean (WKB) and Cranberry Bean (CB), before heat treatment. The aims were to investigate: (a) the effect of US application on the kinetic of hydration; (b) the extent of absorption of different phenolic classes of GS into the beans and the resulting effect on antioxidant activity; (c) the effects of heat treatment on the phenolic fraction and antioxidant activity of GS extract- and water-soaked beans. US fastened the soaking step of both WKB and CB beans, which showed the sigmoidal and the downward concave shape hydration curves, respectively.

Application of inulin for the formulation and delivery of bioactive molecules and live cells.

Inulin is a fructan biosynthesized mainly in plants of the Asteraceae family. It is also found in edible vegetables and fruits such as onion, garlic, leek, and banana. For the industrial production of inulin, chicory and Jerusalem artichoke are the main raw material.

Binary Alginate-Whey Protein Hydrogels for Antioxidant Encapsulation.

Encapsulation of antioxidants in hydrogels, i.e., three-dimensional networks that retain a significant fraction of water, is a strategy to increase their stability and bioaccessibility.

Kinetic Study of Encapsulated β-Carotene Degradation in Dried Systems: A Review.

β-Carotene serves as a precursor of vitamin A and provides relevant health benefits. To overcome the low bioavailability of β-carotene from natural sources, technologies have been designed for its encapsulation in micro- and nano-structures followed by freeze-drying, spray-drying, supercritical fluid-enhanced dispersion and electrospraying. A technological challenge is also to increase β-carotene stability, since due to its multiple conjugated double bonds, it is particularly prone to oxidation.

Kinetic Study of Encapsulated β-Carotene Degradation in Aqueous Environments: A Review.

The provitamin A activity of β-carotene is of primary interest to address one of the world's major malnutrition concerns. β carotene is a fat-soluble compound and its bioavailability from natural sources is very poor. Hence, studies have been focused on the development of specific core/shell micro- or nano-structures that encapsulate β-carotene in order to allow its dispersion in liquid systems and improve its bioavailability.

Vitamin D Incorporation in Foods: Formulation Strategies, Stability, and Bioaccessibility as Affected by the Food Matrix.

Inadequate intake of vitamin D is a global health issue related to severe diseases, mainly involving subjects with dark skin pigmentation, patients affected by malnutrition, malabsorption syndromes, or obesity, and elderly people. Some foods fortified with vitamin D have been tested in vivo, but fortification strategies with a global outreach are still lacking. This review is focused on food fortification with vitamin D, with the aim to collect information on (a) formulation strategies; (b) stability during processing and storage; and (c) in vitro bioaccessibility.

Carotenoids: Considerations for Their Use in Functional Foods, Nutraceuticals, Nutricosmetics, Supplements, Botanicals, and Novel Foods in the Context of Sustainability, Circular Economy, and Climate Change.

Carotenoids are versatile isoprenoids that are important in food quality and health promotion. There is a need to establish recommended dietary intakes/nutritional reference values for carotenoids. Research on carotenoids in agro-food and health is being propelled by the two multidisciplinary international networks, the Ibero-American Network for the Study of Carotenoids as Functional Foods Ingredients (IBERCAROT; ) and the European Network to Advance Carotenoid Research and Applications in Agro-Food and Health (EUROCAROTEN; ).

A comprehensive review on carotenoids in foods and feeds: , applications, patents, and research needs.

Carotenoids are isoprenoids widely distributed in foods that have been always part of the diet of humans. Unlike the other so-called food bioactives, some carotenoids can be converted into retinoids exhibiting vitamin A activity, which is essential for humans. Furthermore, they are much more versatile as they are relevant in foods not only as sources of vitamin A, but also as natural pigments, antioxidants, and health-promoting compounds.

Impact of β-Glucans on Oxidative Stability of Active Compounds Encapsulated in Powders during Storage and In Vitro Digestion.

Polyunsaturated fatty acids and α-tocopherol were encapsulated in powders by spray drying using maltodextrins DE 12 as wall material and different emulsifiers (Tween20, acacia gum or β-glucans-rich extracts from ). The aim was to study the effects of the surfactants on: (a) the oil droplet size distribution and α-tocopherol stability during in vitro digestion, and (b) the oxidative stability during 15 days of accelerated storage. Acacia gum sample had the most stable particle size distribution up to the gastric phase, but showed a significant α-tocopherol degradation prior to the intestinal stage.

The Effect of UV Irradiation on Vitamin D Content and Antioxidant and Antiglycation Activities of Mushrooms.

Mushroom irradiation has been considered a sustainable process to generate high amounts of vitamin D due to the role of this vitamin for human health and of the global concerns regarding its deficient or inadequate intake. Mushrooms are also receiving increasing interest due to their nutritional and medicinal properties. However, there is still a knowledge gap regarding the effect of UV irradiation on mushroom bioactive compounds.

Effect of Vitamin D Fortification Using in a Whole-Grain Cereal Product on Child Acceptability.

Vitamin D deficiency is one of the most common micronutrient insufficiencies among children. Few foods, mainly those derived from animal sources, naturally contain this vitamin. The basidiomycete mushroom could be used as an innovative and sustainable ingredient for food fortification with vitamin D.

Acceptance of a New Food Enriched in β-Glucans among Adolescents: Effects of Food Technology Neophobia and Healthy Food Habits.

The aim of the present study was to evaluate adolescents' acceptability of a novel flat bread modified by substituting a part of the wheat flour content with a powder rich in β-glucans, which can potentially provide health benefits. The effects of food technology neophobia and adolescents' food habits on hedonic perception of the developed product was also investigated. Two hundred and two adolescents (age range: 13-18 years; girls: 49.

Use of Grape Pomace Phenolics to Counteract Endogenous and Exogenous Formation of Advanced Glycation End-Products.

The increase in consumption of "ultra-processed" foods has raised attention because of the possible adverse effects deriving from the Maillard reaction leading to the formation of toxic advanced glycation end-products (AGEs) during food processing. Additionally, the increasing trend and consumption of sugar-added foods and sweetened beverages is related to the endogenous formation of the same toxic compounds. However, ultra-processing in the context of food technology can bring challenges as well as a wealth of opportunities.

Effects of Maltodextrins on the Kinetics of Lycopene and Chlorogenic Acid Degradation in Dried Tomato.

Maltodextrins (MD) are frequently used as processing aids in tomato drying. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of the addition of MD on the stability of lycopene and chlorogenic acid, which are the main lipophilic and hydrophilic antioxidants in processed tomato, respectively. Tomato powder added with 10% MD (dextrose equivalents, DE 12) and a control tomato powder were stored in the water activity (a) range 0.

Effect of powder addition in vegetable soup on ß-glucan content, sensory perception, and acceptability.

is an edible mushroom with interesting nutritional properties, which is able to grow on agri-food waste and could in turn be used as an ingredient for food fortification. However, new food products have to face with the growing consumer consciousness about what they eat and hedonic responses, which represent a key factor in determining food preference and choices. The aim of this study was to design a vegetable-based product (a pumpkin and carrot soup) added with increasing concentration of powder rich in β-glucans, which are fibers with demonstrated bioactivity in humans, and to obtain a sensory description of these fortified products to find the desirable and undesirable sensory properties that affect their acceptance.

Circular reuse of bio-resources: the role of Pleurotus spp. in the development of functional foods.

The basidiomycetes fungi belonging to the genus Pleurotus could make an important contribution to sustainable functional food design because they possess an elevated protein content with a valuable essential amino acid scoring pattern, a unique dietary fibre profile, mainly comprised of branched β-glucan, high levels of some vitamins of the B group, vitamin D, Fe, Zn, Cu, Se and some bioactive mycochemicals, while the Na and fat contents are low. Moreover, Pleurotus spp. can grow efficiently on various clean by-products of food processing, such as wheat straw, wheat stalk and spent beer grain, thus representing a sustainable food source.

Waste grape skins: evaluation of safety aspects for the production of functional powders and extracts for the food sector.

Skin powders and aqueous alcohol extracts were obtained from waste marcs from different grape varieties (Barbera, Nebbiolo, Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Moscato and Müller-Thurgau). Both skins and extracts were analysed for the content of chemical contaminants: ochratoxin A (OTA), biogenic amines (BIAs), pesticides and metals. OTA was detected in low concentrations in Barbera, Moscato and Nebbiolo skins, but only in Barbera and Moscato extracts.

Grape skin extracts from winemaking by-products as a source of trapping agents for reactive carbonyl species.

Background: Clinical evidence supports the relationship between carbonyl stress and type II diabetes and its related pathologies. Methylglyoxal (MGO) is the major dicarbonyl compound involved in carbonyl stress. Efforts are therefore being made to find dietary compounds from natural sources that could exert an MGO trapping response.

Use of winemaking by-products as an ingredient for tomato puree: the effect of particle size on product quality.

Formulations of tomato puree with grape skin fibres (Chardonnay variety) having varying particle sizes were studied. The contents of flavonoids (by HPLC-DAD) and proanthocyanidins (n-butanol/HCl assay), reducing capacity (ferric ion reducing antioxidant power, FRAP) and anti-glycation activity by a bovine serum albumin (BSA)/fructose model system were analysed in vitro. A liking test was performed with consumers.

Characterization of phenolics, in vitro reducing capacity and anti-glycation activity of red grape skins recovered from winemaking by-products.

Red grape skins recovered from ten winemaking processes were analyzed for total phenolic content (Folin Ciocalteu assay), proanthocyanidins (n-butanol/HCl assay), individual phenolics (UPLC-DAD-MS), in vitro ferric ion reducing capacity and anti-glycation activity by bovine serum albumin/fructose and bovine serum albumin/methylglyoxal model systems. The aim was to assess if these by-products have potential as dietary anti-glycation agents, to prevent the glyco-oxidative stress associated with type-2 diabetes. Variability was observed in total phenolics (12.

Phytochemical stability in dried tomato pulp and peel as affected by moisture properties.

Phytochemical stability was studied in dried tomato pulp and dried tomato peel stored at 30 °C with various water activity (a(w)) levels and related to glass transition temperature (T(g)) and water mobility. At a(w) < 0.32, the values for T(g) were >30 °C for both the pulp and peel, indicating that they were in the glassy state, with little molecular mobility.

Apple pomace is a good matrix for phytochemical retention.

Phytochemical content and color changes in dried apple pomace and pulp (mixture of Red Delicious and Golden Delicious varieties) were studied during 9 months storage in the water activity (a(w)) range 0.11-0.75 at 30 °C.