Consumption of a Recommended Serving of Wheat Bran Cereals Significantly Increases Human Faecal Butyrate Levels in Healthy Volunteers and Reduces Markers of Inflammation Ex Vivo

Wheat bran cereals are an important source of dietary fibre. The aim of the study was to investigate if a high intake (120 g) of fibre rich breakfast cereal (which delivers the UK Government guidelines for fibre intake in one serving but is three-fold higher than the manufacturers recommended serving) has additional potential health benefits compared to the recommended serving (40 g, containing 11 g of dietary fibre). To assess this, the study determined the short chain fatty acid (SCFA) profiles in human faecal, urine and plasma samples after consumption of two different servings of fibre-rich cereal. Inhibition of prostanoid production was measured (ex vivo) in human colonic fibroblast cells after cytokine (IL-1β) inflammation stimulation. Eight healthy volunteers, 18-55 years old; BMI (18-30 kg/m2) consumed the wheat bran-rich “ready to eat cereal”, at both the high (120 g) serving and recommended (40 g) serving. Faecal, urine and plasma samples were collected at baseline, throughout the five-hour intervention period and approximately 24 hours following consumption. Faecal butyrate showed the largest increase (p<0.05) of more than a two-fold change following the consumption of the recommended serving of wheat bran cereal (from 13.95 ± 9.17 to 31.63 ± 20.53 mM) and no significant change following the higher serving (from 21.96 ± 11.03 to 22.9 ± 12.69 mM). ANOVA analysis also found a weak serving effect (p = 0.046) of the portion size (high vs. recommended) only for butyrate in urine 24 hours after consumption of the bran cereal. The physiological nutritionally relevant concentrations of faecal SCFAs, as determined in the volunteers’ faecal samples showed significant anti-inflammatory activity or the individual faecal SCFAs; acetate (p<0.001), propionate (p<0.001) and butyrate (p<0.01), as well as in combination. Plasma folate was also increased after consumption of both wheat bran servings and was significant (p = 0.037) at the three-hour time point following consumption of the high wheat bran serving. The consumption of the recommended serving (40 g) of wheat bran cereal increased the total microbial SCFAs levels (from 96.88 to 136.96 mM) compared to the higher serving (120 g) (from 110.5 to 117.64 mM) suggesting that the intake of the higher portion size is likely to promote a faecal bulking effect and thereby decrease colonic SCFA levels. These data indicate that consumption of the recommended serving of wheat bran cereal serving would therefore be sufficient to promote microbial butyrate formation, reduce colonic inflammation and increase plasma folate levels in humans.

Redistribution of nutritionally important starch fractions beneficial to diabetic population by using oats as a functional ingredient in a wheat-based food product – Jereesh

Oats being important sources of β-glucan were incorporated at 10, 20 and 30% level in a wheat-based traditional Arabian breakfast cereal called Jereesh and evaluated for sensory acceptability. Sensory analysis reflected that the products with 10 and 20% oats incorporation were acceptable in terms of color, appearance, taste, aroma, mouthfeel, after taste and overall quality as indicated by the sensory scores which revealed no substantial differences between control jereesh (CJ) and oats incorporated jereesh (OJ). However, jereesh with 30% oats incorporation was very sticky (viscous) and scored low in sensory evaluation. Thus, nutritionally important starch fractions were measured in jereesh with 20% oats incorporation using a controlled in vitro multi-enzymatic method. Results indicated that, addition of oats at 20% level resulted in a substantial decrease (p<0.05) in total starch (TS), rapidly available glucose (RAG), and resistant starch content (RS), as well as a significant increase (p<0.05) in slowly digestible starch (SDS) compared to the control jereesh. The starch digestibility index remained unchanged. The findings of the study suggest that incorporation of oats helps in value addition of jereesh in terms of slow digestibility with increased soluble dietary fiber content that might lower glycemic index.

Effects of Fermented Maize Residue on the Physicochemical and Nutritional Properties of Cookies

Fermented maize residue, a by-product of the production of fermented starch, a local weaning food and breakfast cereal for adults in Nigeria and West Africa was dried, milled into flour and utilized as a fibre source in cookies production at 0 – 30% levels of substitution. The effects of the addition of the fermented maize residue on the physical, sensory and nutritional properties on the cookie sample were investigated. Results showed spread ratio values decreased with residue flour addition, ash content and protein content and carbohydrate also showed a decrease. The crude fibre content increased with levels of replacement. The result of sensory evaluation showed equal preference among the samples. Invitro-protein digestibility showed a decrease with fermented maize residue addition. Addition of fermented maize residue to cookie production can be a viable way of utilizing the fibre rich fermented maize residue

NO EFFECTS OF SWEET TASTE EXPOSURE AT BREAKFAST FOR 3 WEEKS ON PLEASANTNESS, DESIRE FOR, SWEETNESS OR INTAKE OF OTHER SWEET FOODS: A RANDOMIZED CONTROLLED TRIAL

This work investigated the effects of repeated sweet taste exposure at breakfast on perceptions and intakes of other sweet foods, while also examining effects due to duration of exposure (1/3 weeks), test context (breakfast/lunch), and associations between taste perceptions and intakes. Using a randomised controlled parallel-groups design, participants (N=54, 18 male, mean age: 23.9±5.8yrs, mean BMI: 23.6±3.5kg/m2) were randomized to consume either a sweet breakfast (cereal with sucralose) (N=27) or an equicaloric non-sweet breakfast (plain cereal) (N=27) for 3 weeks. On days 0 (baseline), 7, and 21, pleasantness, desire to eat and sweetness were rated for other sweet and non-sweet foods, and sweet food consumption was assessed in an ad-libitum meal at breakfast and lunch. Using intention-to-treat analyses, no statistically significant effects of exposure were found at breakfast (largest F(2,104)=1.84, p=0.17, ηp2=0.03), or lunch (largest F(1,52)=1.22, p=0.27, ηp2=0.02), and using Bayesian analyses, the evidence for an absence of effect in all rating measures was strong to very strong (smallest BF01=297.97 (BF01error=2.68%)). Associations between ratings of pleasantness, desire to eat and intake were found (smallest r=0.137, p<0.01). Effects over time regardless of exposure were also found: sugars and percent energy consumed from sweet foods increased throughout the study smallest (F(2,104)=4.54, p=0.01, ηp2=0.08). These findings demonstrate no effects of sweet taste exposure at breakfast for 1 or 3 weeks on pleasantness, desire for, sweetness or intakes of other sweet foods in either the same (breakfast) or in a different (lunch) meal context.

AMINO ACID PROFILE AND IN VITRO PROTEIN DIGESTIBILITY-CORRECTED AMINO ACID SCORE (PDCAAS) OF READY-TO-EAT BREAKFAST CEREALS: AN ASSESSMENT OF PROTEIN QUALITY

The aim of this study was to determine the amino acid content and in vitro protein digestibility of breakfast cereals and evaluate their protein quality using in vitro protein digestibility-corrected amino acid score (PDCAAS) methods. Statistically big differences were found in the proportions of essential amino acids between breakfast cereals. Higher protein digestibility was found in samples containing rice and corn than those containing oats. The first limiting amino acid score (AAS) in 6 out of 12 samples was methionine + cysteine, in 4 out of 12 samples was lysine, and in 2 out of 12 samples was tryptophan. According to the first limiting AAS, the in vitro PDCAAS ranged from 0.19±0.01 to 0.86±0.02 in breakfast cereals. When we evaluated the first limiting AAS, lysine, methionine+cysteine and tryptophan predominantly determined PDCAAS. As a result, the PDCAAS, which is an indicator of protein quality, was generally low in breakfast cereal products.

Pengembangan Formula Sereal Sarapan Berbasis Beras Hitam Pecah Kulit, Kacang Merah dan Wijen (Development of Breakfast Cereal Formula Based on Unpolished Black Rice, Red Beans and Sesame)

ABSTRAK Beras hitam (Oryza sativa L.) pecah kulit mengandung senyawa fenolik yang memiliki potensi antioksidan. Kacang merah (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) memiliki kandungan protein yang tinggi, sedangkan wijen (Sesamum indicum L.) banyak disukai karena aromanya. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengembangkan formula sereal sarapan terbaik dengan bahan baku beras hitam pecah kulit, kacang merah, dan wijen. Formula terbaik dipilih berdasarkan sifat fisik dan uji hedonik. Rancangan percobaan yang digunakan yaitu rancangan acak lengkap (RAL) dengan faktor kombinasi kacang merah (0 persen; 5 persen; 10 persen) (b/b) dan wijen (0 persen; 5 persen; 10 persen) (b/b) terhadap sifat fisik sereal sarapan (derajat pengembangan, indeks penyerapan air, indeks kelarutan air, kekerasan, kerenyahan) dan uji hedonik. Formula sereal sarapan terbaik dihasilkan pada penambahan 5 persen tepung kacang merah dan 10 persen wijen. Sereal sarapan terbaik memiliki rata-rata total senyawa fenolik sebesar 0,177 mg GAE/g. Kandungan proksimat sereal sarapan antara lain kadar air sebesar 7,79 persen (bb), kadar abu sebesar 2,15 persen (bb), kadar protein sebesar 10,21 persen (bb), kadar lemak sebesar 2,15 persen (bb), dan kadar karbohidrat sebesar 77,70 persen (bb). Penambahan tepung kacang merah meningkatkan jumlah protein pada sereal sarapan. Sereal sarapan termasuk produk sereal sarapan rendah lemak. kata kunci: beras hitam, fenol, kacang merah, sereal sarapan, wijen. ABSTRACT Unpolished black rice (Oryza sativa L) contains phenolic compounds and fiber, which have antioxidant potential. Red beans (Phaseolus vulgarises L) have high protein content, while sesame seed (Sesamum indicum L.) has high popularity due to its good odor. This study aimed to develop breakfast cereals from dehulled black rice, red beans, and sesame seed based on their physical properties and the hedonic test. The experimental design applied was the completely randomized design, i.e. combination of red beans addition (0 percent; 5 percent; 10 percent, ww) and sesame seed (0 percent; 5 percent; 10 percent, ww) toward expansion index, water absorption index, water solubility index, hardness, crispness, and hedonic score. The best breakfast cereal formula was shown by adding 5 percent red beans and 10 percent sesame seeds. Cereal had an average of total phenolic compounds 0,177 mg GAE/g. The proximate content of cereals included 7,79 percent moisture content (ww), 2,15 percent ash content (ww), 10,21 percent protein content (ww), 2,15 percent fat content (ww), and 77,70 percent carbohydrate content (ww). The addition of red beans flour increased the amount of protein in cereals. The final cereal product made could be categorized as a low-fat cereal. keywords: black rice, cereals, phenol, red beans, sesame

Quantifying Child-Appeal: The Development and Mixed-Methods Validation of a Methodology for Evaluating Child-Appealing Marketing on Product Packaging

There is no standardized or validated definition or measure of “child-appeal” used in food and beverage marketing policy or research, which can result in heterogeneous outcomes. Therefore, this pilot study aimed to develop and validate the child-appealing packaging (CAP) coding tool, which measures the presence, type, and power of child-appealing marketing on food packaging based on the marketing techniques displayed. Children (n = 15) participated in a mixed-methods validation study comprising a binary classification (child-appealing packaging? Yes/No) and ranking (order of preference/marketing power) activity using mock breakfast cereal packages (quantitative) and focus group discussions (qualitative). The percent agreement, Cohen’s Kappa statistic, Spearman’s Rank correlation, and cross-classification analyses tested the agreement between children’s and the CAP tool’s evaluation of packages’ child-appeal and marketing power (criterion validity) and the content analysis tested the relevance of the CAP marketing techniques (content validity). There was an 80% agreement, and “moderate” pairwise agreement (κ [95% CI]: 0.54 [0.35, 0.73]) between children/CAP binary classifications and “strong” correlation (rs [95% CI]: 0.78 [0.63, 0.89]) between children/CAP rankings of packages, with 71.1% of packages ranked in the exact agreement. The marketing techniques included in the CAP tool corresponded to those children found pertinent. Pilot results suggest the criterion/content validity of the CAP tool for measuring child-appealing marketing on packaging in accordance with children’s preferences.

Physicochemical Properties and Consumer Acceptability of Break Fast Cereal Made from Sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L) Soybean (Glycine max), Bambara Groundnut (Vigna subterranean) and Groundnut (Arachis hypogaea)

The present study was aimed at the assessment of physicochemical and consumer acceptability of breakfast cereals developed from locally-sourced materials (sorghum, soybean, Bambara groundnut and groundnut). Ten samples were formulated by mixing the flours in different ratios while the formulated flours were subjected to various analyses including proximate composition, functional properties, vitamins and microbial evaluation and consumer acceptability. The results revealed the following ranges in the proximate parameters: moisture (6.45 – 10.46%), protein (10.26 –19.64%), fat (3.89–11.42%), ash (1.48 – 2.69%), crude fiber (1.94–3.72%), carbohydrates (56.09 – 72.06%), and energy (363.52 – 405.64 Kcal). The functional properties of the formulated breakfast cereal were bulk density (0.65-1.14 g/cm3), water absorption capacity (70.45-82.45 ml/g), swelling index (7.05-10.95%), solubility (73.55-88.84%), and viscosity (22.96-38.84 cP). Appreciable quantities of vitamins were present in the formulated breakfast cereal including vitamins C, B1, B2, B3, and folic acid. The sensory evaluation on the formulated breakfast cereal revealed that sample F (5% Malted sorghum flour + 65% Unmalted Sorghum flour + 30% Soybean flour) was rated the highest in terms of appearance, taste, and overall acceptability. The comparative advantage of this formulated cereal meal is that the ingredients used (soybean, sorghum, Bambara groundnut and groundnut) are easily grown in the tropical areas with high yield and are locally available.

Assessing nutritional value of ready-to-eat breakfast cereals in the province of Quebec (Canada): a study from the Food Quality Observatory

Objective: The Food Quality Observatory was created in the province of Quebec (Canada) in 2016. In this study, the Observatory aimed to generate a methodology to (1) test the use of sales data combined with nutrient values to characterise the nutritional composition of ready-to-eat (RTE) breakfast cereals offered and purchased in the province of Quebec (Canada) and (2) verify the extent to which a front-of-pack label based on the percentage of daily value (DV) for total sugar, as a strategy to improve the food supply, would be distributed in this food category. Design: Nutritional information were obtained by purchasing each RTE breakfast cereal available in the Greater Montreal area. Cereals were then classified according to their processing type. Setting: The nutritional values of 331 RTE breakfast cereals available in Quebec were merged with sales data covering the period between May 2016 and May 2017. A total of 306 products were successfully cross-referenced. Results: Granola and sweetened cereals were the most available (36·6 % and 19·6 %, respectively) and purchased (19·8 % and 40·9 % of sales, respectively). When compared with other types of cereals, granola cereals had a higher energy, fat, saturated fat, protein content and a lower Na content. A larger proportion of chocolate (65 %) and sweetened cereals (49 %) were above 15 % of the DV for sugar. Conclusions: This study showed that the methodology developed generates important data to monitor nutritional quality of the food supply and ultimately contribute to improve the nutritional quality of processed foods.