Effect of Oat-Based Ingredients on the Quality of Pastry Products

Introduction. Whole grain products can prevent some chronic diseases. Oats and oat-based foods are rich in beta-glucan, which makes them a perfect ingredient for functional foods. The present research objective was to introduce oat-based ingredients into the formulation of sugar cookies and study the quality of the finished product. Study objects and methods. The study involved various formulations of sugar cookies with different proportions of oat meal and composite flour. Sensory, physicochemical, rheological, structural, and mechanical properties were determined according to standard methods. Results and discussion. The mass shares of protein, fat, and dietary fiber increased together with the share of oat meal: protein – 11.9–12.5%, fat – 2.3–3.7%, dietary fiber – 4.1–4.5%. The swelling rates were 3.41–4.60, which was higher than in the wheat flour sample (2.94). Oat meal increased the viscosity of the model suspensions from 50 to 500 Pa·s The sample with the biggest share of oat meal had the greatest strength (1700 g). The water absorption also increased (193%): it was 220 when the share of oat meal was 20% and 221% when it was 30%. Oat meal decreased the water activity from 0.360 to 0.290 as its concentration grew. Conclusion. The optimal amount of oat meal was 30% and that of oatmeal flakes – 10% of the flour amount. The research also defined the effect of oat meal and oat flakes on the composite flour blend, model dough, and sugar cookes. The article introduces a new commercial formulation of sugar biscuits.

Metabolic variables of obese dogs with insulin resistance supplemented with yeast beta-glucan

Background Obesity is one of the most common nutritional disorders in dogs and cats and is related to the development metabolic comorbidities. Weight loss is the recommended treatment, but success is difficult due to the poor satiety control. Yeast beta-glucans are known as biological modifiers because of their innumerable functions reported in studies with mice and humans, but only one study with dogs was found. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of a diet supplemented with 0.1% beta-glucan on glucose, lipid homeostasis, inflammatory cytokines and satiety parameters in obese dogs. Fourteen dogs composed three experimental groups: Obese group (OG) with seven dogs with body condition score (BCS) 8 or 9; Lean group (LG) included seven non-obese dogs with a BCS of 5; and Supplemented Obese group (SOG) was the OG dogs after 90 days of consumption of the experimental diet. Results Compared to OG, SOG had lower plasma basal glycemic values (p = 0.05) and reduced serum cholesterol and triglyceride levels. TNF-α was lower in SOG than in OG (p = 0.05), and GLP-1 was increased in SOG compared to OG and LG (p = 0.02). Conclusion These results are novel and important for recognizing the possibility of using beta-glucan in obesity prevention and treatment.

Effect of oat supplementation interventions on cardiovascular disease risk markers: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

Purpose Oat supplementation interventions (OSIs) may have a beneficial effect on cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk. However, dietary background can modulate such effect. This systematic review assesses the effects of OSIs on CVD risk markers among adults, accounting for different dietary backgrounds or control arms. Methods We included randomized clinical trials (RCTs) that assessed the effect of oat, oat beta-glucan-rich extracts or avenanthramides on CVD risk markers. Results Seventy-four RCTs, including 4937 predominantly hypercholesterolemic, obese subjects, with mild metabolic disturbances, were included in the systematic review. Of these, 59 RCTs contributed to the meta-analyses. Subjects receiving an OSI, compared to control arms without oats, had improved levels of total cholesterol (TC) [weighted mean difference and (95% CI) − 0.42 mmol/L, (− 0.61; − 0.22)], LDL cholesterol [− 0.29 mmol/L, (− 0.37; − 0.20)], glucose [− 0.25 nmol/L, (− 0.36; − 0.14)], body mass index [− 0.13 kg/m2, (− 0.26; − 0.01)], weight [− 0.94 kg, (− 1.84: − 0.05)], and waist circumference [− 1.06 cm, (− 1.85; − 0.27)]. RCTs on inflammation and/or oxidative stress markers were scarce and with inconsistent findings. RCTs comparing an OSI to heterogeneous interventions (e.g., wheat, eggs, rice, etc.), showed lowered levels of glycated haemoglobin, diastolic blood pressure, HDL cholesterol and apolipoprotein B. The majority of included RCTs (81.1%) had some concerns for risk of bias. Conclusion Dietary OSIs resulted in lowered levels of blood lipids and improvements in anthropometric parameters among participants with predominantly mild metabolic disturbances, regardless of dietary background or control. Further high-quality trials are warranted to establish the role of OSIs on blood pressure, glucose homeostasis and inflammation markers.

Beta-Glucan in Foods and Health Benefits

Many articles and manuscripts focusing on the structure, function, mechanism of action, and effects of β-glucan have been published recently [...]

Quorum sensing plays a key role in controlling beta-glucan exposure in response to environmental pH

Candida albicans is a commensal yeast of the human gut, which is tolerated by the immune system, but has the potential to become an opportunistic pathogen. One way in which C. albicans achieves this duality is through concealing, or exposing cell wall pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs) in response to host derived environment cues (pH, hypoxia, lactate). This cell wall remodelling allows C. albicans to evade or hyperactivate the host’s innate immune responses leading to disease. Previously, we identified that adaptation of C. albicans to acidic environments, conditions encountered during colonisation of the female reproductive tract, induce significant cell wall remodelling resulting in the exposure of two key fungal PAMPs (glucan and chitin). Here we report that this pH-dependent cell wall remodelling is time dependent with the initial change in pH driving cell wall unmasking, which is then remasked at later time points. Remasking ofglucan was mediated via the cell density dependent fungal quorum sensing molecule farnesol, while chitin remasking was mediated via a small, heat-stable, non-proteinaceous secreted molecule(s). Transcript profiling identified a core set of 42 genes significantly regulated by pH over time, and identified the transcription factor Efg1 as a regulator of chitin exposure through regulation of CHT2. This dynamic cell wall remodelling influenced innate immune recognition of C. albicans, suggesting that during infection C. albicans can manipulate the host innate immune responses.

Disease-modifying immune-modulatory effects of the N-163 strain of Aureobasidium pullulans-produced 1,3-1,6 Beta glucans in young boys with Duchenne muscular dystrophy: Results of an open-label, prospective, randomized, comparative clinical study

Background: Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is an inherited neuromuscular disorder causing progressive muscle weakness and premature death. Steroids remain the mainstream approach for supportive care but have side effects; other targeted therapies and gene therapies are also being developed. As there is limited evidence on the use of disease modifying nutritional supplement adjuncts in DMD, this pilot trial is to evaluate the effects of supplementation of Aureobasidium pullulans-derived 1,3 1,6 beta glucan from the N163 strain in young patients with DMD. Methods: Twenty-seven patients with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD), nine in the control arm (undergoing conventional therapies) participated. The patients were divided into groups: those not administered steroids (Steroid negative) (n = 5), those administered steroids (Steroid positive) (n = 4), and 18 in the treatment arm (N163 beta glucan supplement along with conventional therapies; N-163 Steroid negative and N-163 Steroid positive); they participated in the study for 45 days. Assessments of muscle function, disease status, and levels of IL6, IL13, TGF beta;, creatinine kinase (CK), titin, TNF Alpha;, haptoglobin, and dystrophin in the blood and myoglobin in the urine were performed at baseline and at the end of the study. Results: IL6 showed a significant decrease in the N163 Steroid negative group, from a baseline value of 7.2 pg/ml to 2.7 pg/ml. IL13 decreased in both treatment groups, from 157.76 pg/ml to 114.08 pg/ml (N-163 Steroid negative) and from 289.56 pg/ml to 255.56 pg/ml (N-163 Steroid positive). TGF beta levels showed a significant decrease in the N163 Steroid negative group, from a baseline value of 3302 ng/ml to 1325.66 ng/ml post intervention. Dystrophin levels increased by up to 32% in both Steroid positive and negative groups. Medical research council (MRC) grading showed muscle strength improvement in 12 out of 18 patients (67%) in the treatment group and four out of nine (44%) subjects in the control group. Conclusion: Supplementation with the N163 beta glucan food supplement produced disease-modifying beneficial effects: a significant decrease in inflammation and fibrosis markers, increase in dystrophin and improvement in muscle strength in DMD subjects over 45 days, thus making this a potential adjunct treatment for DMD after validation. A longer duration of follow up and further research on the mechanism of action and commonalities with other diseases provoked by hyperactive inflammation and/or fibrosis may pave the way for their extended applications in other dystrophinopathies and neuroinflammatory diseases.