Effect of Processing on Some Quality Parameters of Flour and Bread Made from Wheat Grain Biofortified with Zn and Se

Millions of people have inadequate Se and Zn intakes, but agronomic biofortification could prevent this. This study evaluated the effect of the combined Zn and Se biofortification on the quality parameters of grain, and on the composition of minerals (Zn, Se, Mg, Ca and Fe) and their availability in bread-making wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) products, white flour, wholemeal bread and white bread were evaluated. The studied treatments were soil Zn (no Zn, and 50 kg Zn ha−1) and foliar applications (0, 10 g Se ha−1, 8 kg Zn ha−1, and 10 g Se ha−1 + 8 kg Zn ha−1) and were tested in a two-year field experiment (2017–2018, 2018–2019). The foliar combined biofortification increased the concentration of both minerals in white flour, wholemeal bread and white bread by about 33%, 24% and 51%, respectively for Zn, and 3.3-fold, 3.4-fold and 2.7-fold for Se, showing a synergistic effect on Se concentration with the Se and Zn combination. While the loss of Zn and Se during the milling process was41% and 18%, respectively, baking caused a loss of 15% and 19%, respectively, for wholemeal bread, and up to 61% and 29% for Zn and Se for white bread. Hence, although the consumption of wholemeal bread instead of white bread may enhance Zn and Se intake more than biofortification, until consumption habits change, the biofortification of wheat can help to mitigate inadequate Zn and Se intakes in the general population.

The Nutritional Behaviour of Pregnant Women in Poland

A woman’s diet during pregnancy can significantly affect her health, as well as her child’s future development and well-being. Unfortunately, many pregnant women do not follow the recommended nutritional guidelines. The reason could be that they have insufficient knowledge about nutritional best practice. Accordingly, the purpose of this study is to investigate the nutritional behaviour of pregnant women in Poland. The research was conducted using a questionnaire to survey a sample of N = 815 pregnant women in first pregnancy. Among the findings were that the subjects ate an excessive amount of sweets, and white bread, and consumed insufficient quantities of fish, milk and fermented milk drinks. Subjects chose white bread more often than wholemeal bread, and fruit rather than vegetables. The study showed that the nutritional behaviour of pregnant women was characterised by many bad practices.

Selected determinants of eating behaviours among preschool children from the Kraków environment

Background. One of the factors determining the nutritional behaviour of children and adolescents is family socio-economic status. Objective. The aim of the study was to assess the nutritional behaviour of preschool children from the Kraków environment depending on the sex of the child and the mother’s level of education. Material and methods. The study was carried out among a group of mothers of 480 (240 girls and 240 boys) 4-6-yearolds, using the author’s questionnaire on dietary behaviours. Children of mothers with higher education accounted for 63.5%, and those with primary, vocational and secondary education constituted 36.5% of the group. Statistical analysis was carried out using the PQStat package 1.6.6.246 version, applying Pearson’s Chi-squared test (p<0.05). Results. The girls consumed a significantly greater amount of: vegetables (p<0.01), fruit (p<0.05), wholemeal bread (p<0.001) as well as milk and dairy products (p<0.001), and boys: meat and cold-cuts from poultry (p<0.001) and sweets (p<0.05). Children of mothers with higher education more frequently consumed: vegetables (p<0.001), fruit (p<0.001), wholemeal bread (p<0.001), fish (p<0.01) and eggs (p=0.01), and children of mothers with secondary and vocational education: milk and dairy products (p<0.05), meat and cold-cuts from poultry (p<0.001) and sweets (p=0.001), salted snacks (p<0.001) and sweetened fizzy beverages (p<0.05). Conclusions. Diversity in some dietary choices of preschool children from the Kraków environment has been demonstrated, depending on the sex of children and the mother’s level of education. Furthermore, it is indicated that girls and the children of mother’s with higher education are characterised by a more favourable diet.

Preliminary Study of the Malt Extract Addition on the Wholemeal Bread Quality

Malt extract is used for improving the bread quality made from flour with low ability to form sugars. Introduced in dough it is useful for the yeast development, and multiplication and improve the gas fermentation yield. Therefore malt extract is considered a dough improver. An important role is played by proteolytic enzymes of malt extracts. Present in large amounts proteolytic enzymes lead to worsening the bread quality and increase dough property to widen. Therefore for improving quality of malt extract, must take into account not only the chemical components but also the fermentation activity. Dosing of malt extract is made depending on its fermentation activity and the properties flour, so the amount varies between 1 and 3% by weight flour.The purpose of this study was to emphasize the positive changes of the physical and chemical properties of wholemeal bread, by adding malt extract in different percentages (1% and 2%)