The Short-Term Effects and Tolerability of Low-Viscosity Soluble Fibre on Gastroparesis Patients: A Pilot Clinical Intervention Study

Gastroparesis is a motility disorder that causes severe gastric symptoms and delayed gastric emptying, where the majority of sufferers are females (80%), with 29% of sufferers also diagnosed with Type-1 or Type-2 diabetes. Current clinical recommendations involve stringent dietary restriction and includes the avoidance and minimization of dietary fibre. Dietary fibre lowers the glycaemic index of food, reduces inflammation and provides laxation. Lack of dietary fibre in the diet can affect long-term gastrointestinal health. Our previously published rheological study demonstrated that “low-viscosity” soluble fibres could be a potentially tolerable source of fibre for the gastroparetic population. A randomised controlled crossover pilot clinical study was designed to compare Partially-hydrolysed guar gum or PHGG (test fibre 1), gum Arabic (test fibre 2), psyllium husk (positive control) and water (negative control) in mild-to-moderate symptomatic gastroparesis patients (requiring no enteral tube feeding). The principal aim of the study was to determine the short-term physiological effects and tolerability of the test fibres. In n = 10 female participants, post-prandial blood glucose, gastroparesis symptoms, and breath test measurements were recorded. Normalized clinical data revealed that test fibres PHGG and gum Arabic were able to regulate blood glucose comparable to psyllium husk, while causing far fewer symptoms, equivalent to negative control. The test fibres did not greatly delay mouth-to-caecum transit, though more data is needed. The study data looks promising, and a longer-term study investigating these test fibres is being planned.

Exploration of Encapsulated Modified Psyllium Husk for Preparation of Probiotic Basundi

Background: The dairy industry is one of the largest industries in India. The exports were made to 105 countries in the world. Dairy production is one of the major sustenance factors for the rural economy of India. Notably, India ranks first in Isabgol production (98%) and is the sole supplier of seeds and husk in the international market. Among medicinal plants, Isabgol is the first ranked foreign exchange earner for the country. India is the largest producer and the main supplier of seed and husk to the world market. It contains a significant number of proteins and husk yields colloidal mucilage which are valued for medicinal application and is used in Ayurveda, unani and allopathic systems of medicines. It is the main constituent of a number of laxative preparations. The psyllium is high in soluble fibre content with detoxing effect over digestive system makes it a very apt nutraceutical. Basundi is one of the heats desiccated indigenous products popular in Western part of India, mostly Maharashtra and Gujarat. It can be classified in the condensed milk group along with rabri, khoa, mithai and kheer and can be considered similar to sweetened condensed whole milk. Methods: The present investigation indicates utilization of encapsulated lactic acid bacteria culture (Lactobacillus acidophilus, Lactobacillus bulgaricus) and modified psyllium husk for the preparation of probiotic basundi. The prepared probiotic basundi was analyzed for sensorial, physicochemical and microbial quality parameters. Probiotic basundi was prepared from 1000 ml of milk, 90 gm sugar, 02-03 pieces of cardamom, saffron and encapsulated LAB culture having (107, 108 and 109 cfu/gm containing equal proportions of Lactobacillus acidophilus and Lactobacillus bulgaricus) with 0.65 per cent hydrochloric acid modified psyllium husk. The probiotic basundi was then stored at refrigerated conditions at 4°C for 08 hrs. Result: The organoleptic evaluation of probiotic basundi was carried out. As per the score of hedonic scale, basundi with encapsulated 10 per cent probiotic culture (109 cfu/gm) with 0.65 per cent hydrochloric acid modified psyllium husk had shown maximum consumer acceptability (8.3) among all samples.

Studies on Development of Fibre Rich Probiotic Frozen Yogurt

Background: Yogurt is one of the most popular fermented dairy products worldwide which has great consumer acceptability due to its health benefits other than its basic nutrition. Yogurt is a rich source of calcium in bio-available form and also acts as a probiotic carrier food. Yogurt is reported to be beneficial for the treatment of Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) that includes gastrointestinal disorders. Because of these known health benefits of yogurt, consumer demand for yogurt and yogurt related products has been increased and became the fastest growing dairy category in the global market. Notably, India ranks first in psyllium husk (isabgol) production and is the sole supplier of seeds and husk in the international market. Among medicinal plants, psyllium is the first ranked foreign exchange earner for the country. India is the largest producer and the main supplier of seed and husk to the world market. The psyllium is high in soluble fibre content with detoxing effect over digestive system makes it a very apt nutraceutical. Methods: The present investigation indicates utilization of acid modified psyllium husk for the preparation of probiotic frozen yogurt. The prepared probiotic frozen yogurt was analyzed for sensorial, physicochemical and microbial quality parameters. Probiotic frozen yogurt was prepared from 1 liter buffalo milk, 10 gm sugar and 0.5 gm of acid modified psyllium husk (0.60% HCl in the ethanol solvent with ratio of 1:7). The probiotic culture (107, 108, 109 cfu/gm) containing equal proportions of Lactobacillus acidophilus and Lactobacillus plantarum were added in encapsulated form. It was then stored at refrigerated conditions at 4°C for 8 hours. Result: The organoleptic evaluation of probiotic frozen yogurt was carried out. As per the score of 9-point hedonic scale, probiotic frozen yogurt prepared with 10 per cent encapsulated probiotic culture (109 cfu/gm and 5 per cent each of Lactobacillus acidophilus and Lactobacillus plantarum) and 0.5 gm of acid modified psyllium husk had shown maximum consumer acceptability (8.7) among all samples.

The composition of Australian Plantago seeds highlights their potential as nutritionally-rich functional food ingredients

When wetted, Plantago seeds become covered with a polysaccharide-rich gel called mucilage that has value as a food additive and bulking dietary fibre. Industrially, the dry husk layer that becomes mucilage, called psyllium, is milled off Plantago ovata seeds, the only commercial-relevant Plantago species, while the residual inner seed tissues are either used for low value animal feed or discarded. We suggest that this practice is potentially wasting a highly nutritious resource and here describe the use of histological, physicochemical, and chromatographic analyses to compare whole seed composition/characteristics of P. ovata with 11 relatives already adapted to harsh Australian conditions that may represent novel commercial crop options. We show that substantial interspecific differences in mucilage yield and macromolecular properties are mainly a consequence of differences in heteroxylan and pectin composition and probably represent wide differences in hydrocolloid functionality that can be exploited in industry. We also show that non-mucilage producing inner seed tissues contain a substantial mannan-rich endosperm, high in fermentable sugars, protein, and fats. Whole seed Plantago flour, particularly from some species obtained from harsh Australian environments, may provide improved economic and health benefits compared to purified P. ovata psyllium husk, by retaining the functionality of the seed mucilage and providing additional essential nutrients.