Effects of extrusion cooking on the chemical composition and functional properties of dry common bean powders

Bean flour under pressure: Probing the techno-functionality through processing-structure-function analysis

High pressure processing (HPP) was employed to modify the structural make-up of starch and protein in bean flour to ultimately alter the techno-functionality of the flour. Aqueous bean flour dispersions (20 % solid content (w/w)) were processed at pressures ranging from 250 to 600 MPa for 3 min. The results indicated that HPP modified the morphology of starch granules with a decrease in relative crystallinity as a function of pressure. Pressure-induced changes in the secondary structure of bean flour protein were indicative of protein denaturation. The effect of HPP on bean flour techno-functionality was noted in the Rapid Visco-Analyzer test, where a significant decrease in the peak viscosity was observed for flour processed at 600 MPa. The water absorption index of HPP (600 MPa) flour was higher than the one recorded for all other pressure processed flours. Conversely, pressure processing did not alter the water solubility index of the flours.

Incorporation of Whole or Milled Dry Edible Beans into a High-Fat Diet Improves Bone Structure in Obese Mice

BACKGROUND

Pulses, a healthy diet component, have many bone-beneficial nutrients.

OBJECTIVES

This study investigated whether incorporation of dried pulses to a high-fat diet improves bone metabolism in obese mice.

METHODS

Male C57BL/6 mice at 4-wk-old were randomly assigned to 4 diet groups (n = 22-24/group) for 12 wk: a normal-fat (NF; 4.1 kcal/g and 16% energy as fat), a HF (4.9 kcal/g and 48% energy as fat), or a HF containing either whole beans (HFWB) or milled bean flour (HFMB) at 15% wt/wt. Diets containing beans had similar total energy, protein, and fiber content as the HF without beans. Bone structure and related biomarkers were measured. Data were analyzed using a 1-way analysis of variance followed by Tukey-Kramer post hoc contrasts.

RESULTS

Mice fed the HFWB or HFMB but not the HF had higher lean mass than those fed the NF (P < 0.05, 9.1% and 8.7%, for HFWB and HFMB, respectively). Mice fed the HF, HFWB, or HFMB had 23%, 14%, and 12% lower tibial bone volume/total volume (P < 0.05), respectively, than those on the NF. Mice fed the HF but not the HFWB or HFMB had 9.2% lower bone volume/total volume in the second lumbar vertebrae than those fed the NF (P < 0.05). Pooled HF with bean groups had 18%, 14%, 27%, 17%, and 15% greater body weight, fat mass, plasma concentrations of tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase, C-terminal telopeptide of type 1 collagen, blood glucose than the HF alone, respectively (P < 0.05). Milled bean flour had a greater impact on body weight, fat mass, tibial structural model index, circulating leptin, and glucose than whole bean relative to the HF alone.

CONCLUSIONS

These data indicate that the incorporation of dry edible beans into a HF mitigates but does not fully prevent bone deterioration in obese mice.

High-moisture extrusion of rice bran-peanut proteins: Changes in structural properties and antioxidant activity simulating gastrointestinal digestion

In this experiment, we investigated the structural properties, digestibility, and variations in antioxidant activity of rice bran-tissue peanut protein (RB-TPP), which was created through high-moisture extrusion between peanut protein powder (PPP) and various additions (0 %, 5 %, 10 %, 15 %, and 20 %) of rice bran (RB). The disulfide bonding and hydrophobic interactions were strengthened, and the hydrogen bonding in the RB-TPP was weakened by adding 5-10 % RB. Additionally, the β-sheet content reached its maximum at RB-10 %, which allowed the hydrophobic groups to be encapsulated ina stable protein network fiber structure, enhancing degree of organization, the thermal stability and digestibility of RB-TPP. On the other hand, RB-10 % showed increased total phenolic content and antioxidant activity, in which the ABTS radical scavenging rate was increased by 22.14 % compared with that of RB-0 %, while the DPPH radical scavenging rate in simulated gastric digestion was increased by 10.59 %. RB addition at 15-20 % hindered the aggregation of proteins, which was not conducive to the rearrangement of protein molecules, and the increase in the irregular curls made the RB-TPP structure loose and disordered. This study provides valuable information for producing tissue proteins with stable fiber network structure and better nutritional and functional properties by adding RB.

Real-time thermal imaging of expansion dynamics during extrusion of protein-fortified snacks: Effects of nitrogen gas and protein concentration

The physical quality challenges associated with incorporating proteins into puffed snacks can be mitigated using blowing agents. This study examined the effect of nitrogen gas as a physical blowing agent, on the expansion dynamics (e.g., bubble growth and shrinkage) of corn starch-based extrudates, across a wide range of protein contents (i.e., 0-50 %, d.b.). A real-time high-speed imaging system was used to characterize extrudate expansion along different axes. Nitrogen gas injection significantly impacted the expansion behavior (i.e., expansion dynamics and expansion in different directions) of extrudates, but the effect strongly depended on the protein content in the formula. For instance, at 0 and 20 % protein, nitrogen gas injection at 150 and 300 kPa significantly (p < 0.05) enhanced the longitudinal expansion compared to extrudates produced by conventional extrusion. In addition, at 50 % protein, nitrogen gas injection at 150 and 300 kPa resulted in a significant (p < 0.05) improvement in growth time and longitudinal expansion, respectively, compared to those produced with conventional extrusion. Overall, the results underscored the potential of nitrogen gas-assisted extrusion in manipulating extrudate expansion dynamics and therefore increasing the extent of expansion, especially at high protein content. This study contributes to the field of extrusion cooking by demonstrating how advanced processing techniques can improve the quality and consumer appeal of protein-enriched snacks, offering valuable insights into optimizing extrusion processes for high-protein snack formulations.

Effects of extrusion conditions on the morphological, functional, and sensory properties of soy press cake extrudates

We developed and applied 4 extrusion regimens (moisture content between 30 % and 60 % and temperature from 110 °C to 120 °C) with twin-screw extruder for valorising soy press cakes, byproduct of soy drink (Soyd) and tofu (Soyt) manufacturing processes, by varying physical conditions of extrusion for improving their morphological, functional, and sensory parameters. The valorised soy press cakes were compared to their respective control samples (Soyd or Soyt) both before and after extrusion. Two quantities (3%-6%) of untreated and extruded soy press cakes were utilised to develop meat analogues. Extrusion introduced striations and reduced flakiness on the surface of extruded press cake samples. Press cakes extruded at higher moisture indicated improved water holding and oil holding capacity. Interestingly, the same press cake samples also scored higher for positive indicators (e.g., juiciness) during sensory assessment. Compared with meat analogue control matrix, all meat analogue samples containing varying amounts of extruded press cake exhibited reduced chewiness, with other parameters relatively unchanged. Our results indicate that extrusion of soy press cakes of both Soyd and Soyt origin at 120 °C with 60 % moisture results in improving the morphological, functional, and sensory properties of press cakes, making them suitable for development of meat analogues.

Enhancing the nutritional and bioactive benefits of faba bean flour by combining preprocessing and thermoplastic extrusion: A comprehensive study on digestion-resistant peptides

This research assessed how three preprocessing techniques [soaking (S), soaking and reconstitution (SR), and soaking and dehulling (SD)] impact the protein digestibility and bioactivity of faba bean flours when combined with thermoplastic extrusion. Samples were compared against a control (C) of extruded faba bean flour without preprocessing. Applying preprocessing techniques followed by extrusion diminished antinutrient levels while enhancing protein hydrolysis and in vitro bioactivity in higher extent compared to C. Specifically, SD combined with extrusion was the most effective, achieving an 80% rate of protein hydrolysis and uniquely promoting the release of gastric digestion-resistant proteins (50-70 kDa). It also resulted in the highest release of small peptides (<3kDa, 22.51%) and free amino acids (15.50%) during intestinal digestion. Moreover, while all preprocessing techniques increased antioxidant (ABTS radical-scavenging), antidiabetic, and anti-hypertensive activities, SD extruded flour displayed the highest levels of dipeptidyl peptidase inhibition (DPP-IVi, IC50=13.20 µg/mL), pancreatic α-amylase inhibition (IC50=8.59 mg/mL), and angiotensin I-converting enzyme inhibition (ACEi, IC50=1.71 mg protein/mL). As a result, it was selected for further peptide and in silico bioactive analysis. A total of 24 bioactive peptides were identified in intestinal digests from SD extruded flour, all with potential DPP-IVi and ACEi activities, and six were also predicted as antioxidant peptides. VIPAGYPVAIK and GLTETWNPNHPEL were highlighted as resistant bioactive peptides with the highest antidiabetic and antioxidant potential. Our findings demonstrated that combining preprocessing (particularly SD) and thermoplastic extrusion enhances protein digestibility in faba beans and promotes the release of beneficial bioactive peptides in the intestine.

Advancements in enhancing resistant starch type 3 (RS3) content in starchy food and its impact on gut microbiota: A review

Resistant starch type 3 (RS3), often found in cooked starchy food, has various health benefits due to its indigestible properties and physiological functions such as promoting the abundance of gut beneficial microbial flora and inhibiting the growth of intestinal pathogenic bacteria. However, it is challenging to develop starchy food with high RS3 content. This review aims to provide a detailed overview of current advancements to enhance RS3 content in starchy food and its effects of RS3 on gut microbiota. These approaches include breeding high-amylose cereals through gene editing techniques, processing, enzyme treatments, storage, formation of RS3 nanoparticles, and the incorporation of bioactive compounds. The mechanisms, specific conditions, advantages, and disadvantages associated with each approach and the potential effects of RS3 prepared by different methods on gut microbiota are summarized. In conclusion, this review contains important information that aims to provide guidelines for developing an efficient RS3 preparation process and promote the consumption of RS3-enriched starchy foods to improve overall health outcomes.

Effect of extrusion cooking on the chemical and nutritional properties of instant flours: a review

Satisfying the nutritional requirements of consumers has made food industries focus on the development of safe, innocuous, easy-to-prepare products with high nutritional quality through efficient processing technologies. Extrusion cooking has emerged as a prominent technology associated with the nutritional and functional attributes of food products. This review aims to establish a theoretical framework concerning the influence of extrusion parameters on the functional and nutritional properties of precooked or instant flours, both as end-products and ingredients. It highlights the pivotal role of process parameters within the extruder, including temperature, screw speed, and raw materials moisture content, among others, and elucidates their correlation with the modifications observed in the structural composition of these materials. Such modifications subsequently induce notable changes in the ultimate characteristics of the food product. Detailed insights into these transformations are provided within the subsequent sections, emphasizing their associations with critical phenomena such as nutrient availability, starch gelatinization, protein denaturation, enhanced in vitro digestibility, reduction in the content of antinutritional factors (ANFs), and the occurrence of Maillard reactions during specific processing stages. Drawing upon insights from available literature, it is concluded that these effects represent key attributes intertwined with the nutritional properties of the end-product during the production of instant flours.

Common beans as a source of food ingredients: Techno-functional and biological potential

Common beans are an inexpensive source of high-quality food ingredients. They are rich in proteins, slowly digestible starch, fiber, phenolic compounds, and other bioactive molecules that could be separated and processed to obtain value-added ingredients with techno-functional and biological potential. The use of common beans in the food industry is a promising alternative to add nutritional and functional ingredients with a low impact on overall consumer acceptance. Researchers are evaluating traditional and novel technologies to develop functionally enhanced common bean ingredients, such as flours, proteins, starch powders, and phenolic extracts that could be introduced as functional ingredient alternatives in the food industry. This review compiles recent information on processing, techno-functional properties, food applications, and the biological potential of common bean ingredients. The evidence shows that incorporating an adequate proportion of common bean ingredients into regular foods such as pasta, bread, or nutritional bars improves their fiber, protein, phenolic compounds, and glycemic index profile without considerably affecting their organoleptic properties. Additionally, common bean consumption has shown health benefits in the gut microbiome, weight control, and the reduction of the risk of developing noncommunicable diseases. However, food matrix interaction studies and comprehensive clinical trials are needed to develop common bean ingredient applications and validate the health benefits over time.

Effect of Wheat Gluten and Peanut Protein Ratio on the Moisture Distribution and Textural Quality of High-Moisture Extruded Meat Analogs from an Extruder Response Perspective

Wheat gluten (WG) and peanut protein powder (PPP) mixtures were extruded at high moisture to investigate the potential application of this mixture in meat analog production. Multiple factors, including the water absorption index (WAI), water solubility index (WSI), rheological properties of the mixed raw materials, die pressure, torque and specific mechanical energy (SME) during high moisture extrusion, texture properties, color, water distribution, and water activity of extrudates were analyzed to determine the relationships among the raw material characteristics, extruder response parameters, and extrudate quality. At a WG ratio of 50%, the extrudates have the lowest hardness (2.76 kg), the highest springiness (0.95), and a fibrous degree of up to 1.75. The addition of WG caused a significant rightward shift in the relaxation time of hydrogen protons in the extrudates, representing increased water mobility and water activity. A ratio of 50:50 gave the smallest total color difference (ΔE) (about 18.12). When the added amount of WG was 50% or less, it improved the lightness and reduced the ΔE compared to >50% WG. Therefore, clarifying the relationship among raw material characteristics, extruder response parameters, and extruded product quality is helpful in the systematic understanding and regulation of the fiber textural process of binary protein meat analogs.

Separation and purification of antioxidant peptides from purple speckled kidney bean by macroporous adsorption resin and analysis of amino acid composition

The protein hydrolysate of purple speckled kidney bean (PSKB) was used as the raw material in this study, and the antioxidant peptide of the PSKB protein hydrolysate was purified using macroporous resin. The XAD-7HP macroporous resin was selected as the best purification material, and the static adsorption-desorption of the purified PSKB antioxidant peptide was optimized. The optimum static adsorption and desorption conditions were as follows: the adsorption capacity reached 11.93 ± 0.11 mg/ml at pH 7 for 24 h, and the desorption capacity was 5.24 ± 0.04 mg/ml with 60% ethanol for 30 min. Under this condition, the amount of antioxidant peptide obtained by adsorption-desorption was the highest. The optimum process conditions were as follows: the appropriate flow rate was 1 ml/min, and the optimal injection volume was 40 ml. The adsorption amount at this time can reach 12.19 ± 0.15 mg/ml. The components with an elution time of 10-30 min were separated using the reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC) technique to obtain three main components, namely, RP₁, RP₂, and RP₃. The DPPH free radical scavenging ability reached 56.26 ± 0.56, 66.42 ± 0.56, and 78.57 ± 0.56%, respectively, which were 36.65, 46.34 ± 0.56, and 54.39 ± 0.56% higher than those before purification. The amino acid sequences of the three components were identified as Phe-Leu-Val-Asp-Arg-Ile, Phe-Leu-Val-Ala-Pro-Asp-Asp, and Lys-Asp-Arg-Val-Ile-Ser-Glu-Leu.

Food extrusion: An advanced process for innovation and novel product development

Extrusion is a versatile process capable of producing a variety of new and novel foods and ingredients, thus increasing manufacturing opportunities. Further, it could provide nutritious, safe, sustainable, and affordable foods, especially directed at individualized consumer needs. In addition to past research efforts, more investigations should be conducted in order to refine, redesign, or develop new extrusion processing technologies. The present review highlights the current advances made in new and novel food product development by considering the extrusion process, the influencing parameters, and product characteristics and properties; the most promising extrusion processes that can be used in novel food product and ingredient development, such as extrusion cooking, hot-melt extrusion, reactive extrusion, and extrusion-based 3D printing; the possibilities of using various raw materials in relation to process and product development; and the needs for product development modeling along with extrusion process design and modeling. In correlation with extruded product development, topics that merit further investigation may include structure formation, plant and animal biopolymers functionalization, biopolymer reactions, process simulation, modeling and control, engineering and mechanical aspects of extruders, analysis of pre-processing treatments, as well as prototyping, risk analysis, safety, sensory and consumer acceptance.

High moisture extrusion cooking of meat analogs: A review of mechanisms of protein texturization

High-moisture extrusion cooking (HMEC) is an efficient method for converting proteins and polysaccharides into fibrous structure that is used in the industrial production of meat analogs. The purpose of this review is to systematically evaluate current knowledge regarding the modification of protein structure including denaturation and reassembly upon extrusion processing and to correlate this understanding to the structure of the final products. Although there is no consensus on the relative importance of a certain type of bond on extrudates' structure, literature suggests that, regardless of moisture level, these linkages and interactions give rise to distinctive hierarchical order. Both noncovalent and disulfide bonds contribute to the extrudates' fibrous structure. At high water levels, hydrogen and disulfide bonds play a dominant role in extrudates' texture. The process parameters including cooking temperature, screw speed, and moisture content have significant albeit different levels of impact on the texturization process. Their correlation with the ingredients' physiochemical properties provides a greater insight into the process-structure-function relationship of meat analogs. The tendency of protein and polysaccharide blends to phase separate rather than produce a homogeneous mix is a particularly important aspect that leads to the formation of fibrous layers when extruded. This review shows that systematic studies are required to measure and explain synergistic and competitive interactions between proteins and other ingredients such as carbohydrates with a focus on their incompatibility. The wide range of plant protein source can be utilized in the HMEC process to produce texturized products, including meat analogs.

Twin-Screw Extrusion of Oat: Evolutions of Rheological Behavior, Thermal Properties and Structures of Extruded Oat in Different Extrusion Zones

Further investigation of material properties during the extrusion process is essential to achieve precise control of the quality of the extrudate. Whole oat flour was used to produce low moisture puffed samples by a twin-screw extruder. X-ray diffraction (XRD), Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), thermal analysis, and rheological experiments were used to deeply characterize changes in the structure and cross-linking of oats in different extrusion zones. Results indicated that the melting region was the main region that changed oat starch, including the major transformation of oat starch crystal morphology and the significant decrease of enthalpy representing the starch pasting peak in the differential scanning calorimeter (DSC) pattern (p < 0.05). Moreover, the unstable structure of the protein increased in the barrel and then decreased significantly (p < 0.05) after being extruded through the die head. The viscosity of oats increased in the cooking zone but decreased after the melting zone. A transformation occurred from elastic-dominant behavior to viscoelastic-dominant behavior for oats in the melting zone and after being extruded. This study provides further theoretical support for the research of the change of materials during extrusion and the development of oat-based food.

High-amylose starch: Structure, functionality and applications

Starch with a high amylose (AM) content (high AM starch, HAS) has attracted increasing research attention due to its industrial application potential, such as functional foods and biodegradable packaging. In the past two decades, HAS structure, functionality, and applications have been the research hotspots. However, a review that comprehensively summarizes these areas is lacking, making it difficult for interested readers to keep track of past and recent advances. In this review, we highlight studies that benefited from rapidly developing techniques, and systematically review the structure, functionality, and applications of HAS. We particularly emphasize the relationships between HAS molecular structure and physicochemical properties.

Extrusion Cooking Effect on Carbohydrate Fraction in Novel Gluten-Free Flours Based on Chickpea and Rice

Extrusion cooking allows the development of value-added products from pulses, such as gluten-free snacks with added functional properties. The main objective of this study was to evaluate the changes induced by the extrusion process on the carbohydrate fraction (total carbohydrates, soluble sugars and oligosaccharides, dietary fiber, and arabinoxylans) of novel flour formulations based on chickpeas and rice enriched with different dietary fiber sources. Moreover, the influence of the addition of fiber-rich ingredients, such as Fibersol^® and passion fruit, on the analyzed compounds was also evaluated. Sucrose was the main soluble sugar found in analyzed formulations, and raffinose was the prevalent oligosaccharide, followed by stachyose. The content of total α-galactosides tended to be higher after extrusion cooking. As a consequence of the extrusion treatment, the content of total and soluble dietary fiber was statistically increased in most of the analyzed samples. In general, no significant changes were observed in total arabinoxylan content as a consequence of the extrusion process, while the content of water-soluble arabinoxylans was significantly increased in extruded formulations. It was observed that the content of total available carbohydrates, stachyose, and water-soluble arabinoxylans were significantly influenced by the addition of passion fruit, Fibersol^®, and both. The incorporation of these ingredients in gluten-free formulations based on chickpeas and rice allows one to obtain suitable functional formulations for the development of innovative, gluten-free, extruded snack-type products, which could be an interesting alternative for people with celiac disease.

Enrichment in Different Health Components of Barley Flour Using Twin-Screw Extrusion Technology to Support Nutritionally Balanced Diets

Due to its good dietary role, barley has attracted a growing amount of interest for the manufacture of functional foods in recent years. In barley, a number of bioactive components, including as phenolic compounds, have been discovered, and barley extrudates could be used to formulate various processed foods, including ready-to-eat cereals, baby, and pet foods and support nutritionally balanced diets. This study was conducted to investigate the effect of extrusion processing on resistant starch (RS), glycemic index (GI), and antioxidant compounds of barley flour. The L^* and ΔE values of barley flours decreased significantly (p < 0.05) after extrusion is done at 150 and 180°C. The a^* and b^* values, however, increased after extrusion. Extrusion increased antioxidant activity (AOA), metal chelating activity (MCA), and ABTS⁺ scavenging activity, whereas total phenolic content (TPC) and total flavonoids content (TFC) decreased. Barley extrudates at 150 and 180°C showed decreased TPC by 16.4–34.2% and 23.4–38.1%. Moreover, improved RS and reduced GI values were recorded for barley extrudates as compared to barley non-extrudates. Therefore, extrusion of barley could be an alternative to produce pregelatinized barley flour with improved RS low GI values and improved antioxidant potential.

Development of Cellular High-Protein Foods: Third-Generation Yellow Pea and Red Lentil Puffed Snacks

This study aimed to evaluate how extrusion cooking conditions and microwave heating play a role in enhancing physical and thermal properties of third-generation expanded cellular snacks made from yellow pea (YP) and red lentil (RL) flours for the first time. Increasing temperature and moisture content during extrusion resulted in darker, crunchier and crispier products with higher expansion index (EI). Microwave heating after extrusion led to an increase in cell size and porosity of YP and RL products when qualitatively compared to extrusion alone. Additionally, extrusion followed by microwave heating resulted in extensive damage to starch granular structure and complete denaturation of proteins. Using microwave heating, as a fast and inexpensive process, following partial cooking with extrusion was demonstrated to greatly improve the physical and thermal properties of YP and RL snacks. Microwave heating following mild extrusion, instead of severe extrusion cooking alone, can potentially benefit the development of high quality nutritionally-dense expanded cellular snacks made from pulse flours.

Effects of graded inclusion levels of raw garbanzo beans on apparent total tract digestibility, fecal quality, and fecal fermentative end-products and microbiota in extruded feline diets

Garbanzo beans (GB; Cicer arietinum) are a readily available pulse crop that have gained popularity as a plant-based protein source in the pet food industry. However, raw GB contain anti-nutritional factors that can reduce digestibility and cause digestive upsets in pets that are undesirable to owners. The objective of this study was to determine the effects of the inclusion of raw or cooked GB in extruded feline diets on macronutrient digestibility, gastrointestinal tolerance, and fermentative end-products in cats. Five diets were formulated to contain raw GB at 0%, 7.5%, 15%, or 30% or cooked GB at 30%. Ten adult, male cats (mean age: 1.0 ± 0.0 yr, mean BW: 4.7 ± 0.4 kg) were used in a replicated 5 × 5 Latin square design. Each period consisted of 14 d, with 10 d of diet adaptation followed by 4 d of total fecal and urine collection. At the end of each period, 4 mL of blood were collected and analyzed for a serum chemistry and complete blood count to ensure all animals remained healthy throughout the study. Cats were fed twice daily and food intake was calculated to maintain body weight. Food intake was highest (P < 0.05) for cats fed 0% raw GB (72.2 g/d, dry matter basis [DMB]) compared with GB inclusions of 7.5% or greater (average 70.3 g/d, DMB). Dry matter and organic matter apparent total tract digestibility (ATTD) were lowest (P < 0.05) for cats consuming the 30% cooked GB diet (77.3% and 81.7%, respectively). Cats fed 7.5% raw GB had greater (P < 0.05) crude protein ATTD (86.2%) than cats fed 15% raw GB (82.3%) or 30% cooked GB (81.6%). Total short-chain fatty acid concentrations were highest (P < 0.05) for 30% cooked GB at 682 μmol/g but not different (P > 0.05) than 15% GB (528 μmol/g) or 30% raw GB (591 μmol/g) diets. In terms of fecal microbial abundance, the predominant phyla were Firmicutes, Bacteroidota, and Actinobacteria. Cats fed the 0% GB diet had a greater relative abundance of Firmicutes (62.1%) and Fusobacteria (4.0%) than the remaining diets (average 54% and 1.6%, respectively). In conclusion, all inclusion levels of raw GB resulted in high digestibility (average > 80%) and ideal fecal scores (average 2.9), demonstrating their adequacy as a protein source in feline diets up to a 30% inclusion level.

Common Bean Baked Snack Consumption Reduces Apolipoprotein B-100 Levels: A Randomized Crossover Trial

Snack alternatives based on common beans (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) have been developed to promote pulse consumption. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the chemical composition, sensory acceptance and the effect of common bean baked snack (CBBS) consumption on blood lipid levels in participants with overweight and altered blood lipid levels. A sensory evaluation by 80 untrained judges was carried out using a hedonic scale. A randomized crossover 2 × 2 trial was performed, where 20 participants with overweight and one blood lipid alteration consumed 32 g of CBBS or did not consume it (control) for four weeks. Blood samples were taken to quantify the triglycerides, total cholesterol, LDL-c, HDL-c, ApoB-100, glucose and insulin. Furthermore, anthropometric, dietary and physical activity parameters were recorded. The overall acceptance of CBBS was similar compared to popcorn (p > 0.05). The consumption of CBBS reduced the apolipoprotein B-100 levels (p = 0.008). This reduction could be associated with the additional dietary fiber consumption during the CBBS period (p = 0.04). Although it did not improve any other blood lipid or glucose parameters (p > 0.05), it did not affect them either, which means that the CBBS could be consumed without compromising cardiovascular health.

Pulse-based snacks as functional foods: Processing challenges and biological potential

Despite their high nutritional value and potential health benefits, pulse intake has not increased in the last three decades. Several strategies have been implemented to increase pulse consumption, such as their incorporation in bakery products, breakfast cereals, and snacks. The inclusion of pulses in these products could be an alternative to satisfy the consumers' demand for healthy foods. However, pulse-based snacks face important challenges, including reducing antinutritional factors, achieving consumer acceptance, and consolidating the pulse-based snacks as functional foods. This review summarizes and discusses methods for producing snacks where cereals or tubers were replaced with at least 50% pulses. Also, it briefly assesses their effect on nutritional composition, antinutritional factors, sensory acceptance, and different health benefits evaluations. Extruded snacks exhibited high protein and dietary fiber and low fat content, contrary to the high fat content of deep fat-fried snacks. Meanwhile, baked snacks presented moderate concentrations of protein, dietary fiber, and lipids. Pulses must be pretreated using process combinations such as soaking, dehulling, cooking, fermentation, germination, and extrusion to reduce the antinutritional factors. Pulse-based snacks show good sensory acceptance. However, sensory evaluation should be more rigorous using additional untrained judges. Several studies have evaluated the health benefits of pulse-based snacks. More research is needed to validate scientifically the health benefits associated with their consumption. Pulse-based snacks could be an alternative to improve the nutritional composition of commercially available snacks. The use of pulses as ingredients of healthier snacks represents an important alternative for the food industry due to their low cost, sensory characteristics, high nutritional profile, and environmental benefits.

Use of Legumes and Yeast as Novel Dietary Protein Sources in Extruded Canine Diets

The popularity of plant-based protein sources has increased as consumer demand for grain-free and novel protein sources increase. Minimal research has been conducted as regards to use of legumes and yeast and their effects on acceptability and digestibility in canine diets. The objective of this study was to evaluate macronutrient apparent total tract digestibility (ATTD), gastrointestinal tolerance, and fermentative end-products in extruded, canine diets. Five diets were formulated to be isocaloric and isonitrogenous with either garbanzo beans (GBD), green lentils (GLD), peanut flour (PFD), dried yeast (DYD), or poultry by-product meal (CON) as the primary protein sources. Ten adult, intact, female beagles (mean age: 4.2 ± 1.1 yr, mean weight: 11.9 ± 1.3 kg) were used in a replicated, 5 × 5 Latin square design with 14 d periods. Each experimental period consisted of 10 d of diet adaptation, followed by 4 d of total fecal and urine collection. A fasted, 5 ml blood sample was collected at the end of each period and analyzed for serum metabolites and complete blood count. Serum metabolites were within normal ranges and all dogs remained healthy throughout the study. Fecal quality, evaluated on a 5-point scale, was considered ideal. Macronutrient ATTD was similar among dietary treatments, with diets highly digestible (>80%). Total fecal branched-chain fatty acid concentrations were highest (P < 0.05) for DYD (23.4 μmol/g) than GLD (16.1 μmol/g) and PFD (16.0 μmol/g) but not different (P > 0.05) than other treatments. The plant-based protein treatments had greater (P < 0.05) total fecal short chain fatty acid (SCFA) concentrations (average 627.6 μmol/g) compared with CON (381.1 μmol/g). Fecal butyrate concentration was highest (P < 0.05) for DYD than all other dietary treatments (103.9 μmol/g vs. average 46.2 μmol/g). Fecal microbial communities showed Firmicutes, Bacteroidetes, Fusobacteria, and Proteobacteria as abundant phyla. There was greater β-diversity for dogs fed DYD which differed from all other diets in both weighted and unweighted UNIFRAC analyses. Inclusion of these novel, plant-based, protein sources showed no detrimental effects on nutrient digestibility or fecal characteristics and represent viable protein sources in canine diets that can produce beneficial shifts in fecal metabolites.

Pulse processing affects gas production by gut bacteria during in vitro fecal fermentation

Flatulence is one barrier to pulse consumption for many people. Therefore, we examined how processing affects gas production by the microbiome in three classes of pulses. Processing did not affect gas production from Navy beans. However, in Pardina lentils and green peas, (-1.9 ± 0.3 mL/24 h, p < 0.001; -2.3 ± 0.3 mL/24 h, p < 0.001, respectively). In Pardina lentils and green peas, germination diminished carbohydrate utilization by the microbiome compared with unprocessed samples. In Pardina lentils germination reduced abundance germination resulted in the greatest reduction in gas production among six processing methods of amplicon sequence variants (ASVs) from Bacteroides and Lachnospiraceae and reduced propionate production compared with unprocessed samples. In green peas, germination reduced ASVs from Lachnospiraceae, including one from Roseburia, and reduced proportion of butyrate production during fermentation. Three ASVs from Clostridium sensu stricto (cluster 1), Megasphaera elsdenii, and unclassified Veillonellaceae, were strongly associated with increased gas production across all samples (ρ = 0.67-0.69, p < 0.001). This study showed that processing can reduce gas production by the microbiome in some pulses, but also reduces saccharolytic fermentation and production of beneficial microbial metabolites.

Autoclaved and Extruded Legumes as a Source of Bioactive Phytochemicals: A Review

Legumes have been consumed since ancient times all over the world due to their easy cultivation and availability as a low-cost food. Nowadays, it is well known that pulses are also a good source of bioactive phytochemicals that play an important role in the health and well-being of humans. Pulses are mainly consumed after processing to soften cotyledons and to improve their nutritive and sensorial characteristics. However, processing affects not only their nutritive constituents, but also their bioactive compounds. The final content of phytochemicals depends on the pulse type and variety, the processing method and their parameters (mainly temperature and time), the food matrix structure and the chemical nature of each phytochemical. This review focuses on the changes produced in the bioactive-compound content of pulses processed by a traditional processing method like cooking (with or without pressure) or by an industrial processing technique like extrusion, which is widely used in the food industry to develop new food products with pulse flours as ingredients. In particular, the effect of processing methods on inositol phosphates, galactosides, protease inhibitors and phenolic-compound content is highlighted in order to ascertain their content in processed pulses or pulse-based products as a source of healthy phytochemicals.

Optimization of nutrient retention in whole flours extruded from cowpea biofortified grain

Abstract Whole flour of cowpea grains of the cultivar BRS Tumucumaque biofortified in iron and zinc were processed in a co-rotating twin-screw extruder Clextral HT 25. A central rotational composite design 23, combining temperature (from 86.4 to 153.6 °C), screw rotation speed (from 163.6 to 836.4 rpm) and moisture content (from 16.6% to 23.4%), was used to assess the effects on flour constituents. The three variables significantly affected (p < 0.05) the levels of protein and copper in the extrudates. The reactions of the extrusion process caused a decrease in the levels of proteins and an increase in the levels of copper, zinc and potassium, and these amounts were accentuated as the values of the process variables approached those of the central point region. Extreme conditions at high rotational screw speeds combined with low moisture content reduced the magnesium content, at the opposite end of the values for these two variables, the intensity of the reduction was lower. In the analysis of global desirability, it was found that the extrusion condition at 112.6 °C, 587.4 rpm and 23.4% moisture provided the highest nutrient retention. The levels of iron and zinc remained above 60 and 40 mg kg-1, respectively, in extruded products.

Extrusion cooking of protein-based products: potentials and challenges

Extrusion cooking is receiving increasing attention as technology applied for the production of protein-based products. Researchers in this field showed that proteins from several sources are barely consumed because of their poor functionality and lack of acceptability related to the presence of some antinutritional factors. In this regard, extrusion is becoming of key importance thanks to its ability to improve protein functional properties. Based on this remarkable advantage, several studies have been published so far providing evidence of the enhanced functional, physicochemical and sensory properties of protein-based extruded products. The objective of the present review is to give a detailed overview of the potential of extrusion for the production of protein-based products. More specifically, the work describes all the studies published so far on vegetable and animal proteins including those recently released applying the technology on insect proteins. The aspects related to the functional properties of the extrudates together with the quality changes occurring during the process are also described to highlight the potential of the technology for future applications.

Classification, Force Deformation Characteristics and Cooking Kinetics of Common Beans

Post-harvest characteristics of common beans influences its classification, which significantly affects processing time and energy requirements. In this work, ten bean cultivars were classified as either easy-to-cook (ETC) or hard-to-cook (HTC) based on a traditional subjective finger pressing test and a scientific objective hardness test. The hardness study used seed coat rigidity to explain the structural deformation observed during cooking. The result shows that the average hardness of raw dry ETC and HTC beans was 102.4 and 170.8 N, respectively. The maximum seed coat resistance is observed within the first 30 min of cooking regardless of the classification. The results show that a modified three-parameter non-linear regression model could accurately predict the rate of bean softening (R2 = 0.994–0.999 and RMSE = 3.3–14.7%). The influence of bean softeners such as potassium carbonate (K2CO3) and sodium chloride (NaCl) to reduce cooking time was also investigated. The results showed that the addition of K2CO3 to the cooking water significantly reduced the cooking time by up to 50% for ETC and 57% for HTC.

Physical and technofunctional properties of yellow pea flour and bread crumb mixtures processed with low moisture extrusion cooking

The potential utilization of yellow pea flour and bread crumb blends was investigated to generate nutritionally-dense extruded products with superior physical and/or technofunctional properties. Yellow pea flour mixed with bread crumb at different ratios were processed using low-moisture twin-screw extrusion cooking conditions to examine the effect of blending ratios and feed moisture contents on physical (that is, radial expansion index, extrudate density, microstructure, texture, and color) and technofunctional (that is, emulsifying capacity, emulsifying stability, water solubility [WS], water binding capacity [WBC], oil binding capacity [OBC], and pasting) properties of the final products. Compared to the two feed materials alone, samples produced with yellow pea flour and bread crumb blends showed lower hardness and higher crispiness. Moisture content (12% to 18%) was found to significantly affect physical and technofunctional properties. With an increase in feed moisture content from 12% to 18%, the WBC of the extrudates increased while the WS decreased. Extrudates produced with higher feed moisture content, and higher yellow pea flour content had higher setback viscosity. Among all formulas and feed moisture contents studied, extrudates produced with 50% yellow pea flour and 50% bread crumb at 12% feed moisture content had the highest radial expansion and bigger cells with thinner cell walls. This study has shown that incorporation of yellow pea flour and bread crumb in extrusion cooking process could be used to develop nutritionally-dense foods with improved physical and technofunctional properties.

Extrusion and nixtamalization conditions influence the magnitude of change in the nutrients and bioactive components of cereals and legumes

Cereal and legume diets make up the bulk of caloric sources for a majority of households in the developing world. They contain macro- and micronutrients as well as phytochemicals embedded as one matrix. Some phytochemicals are antinutritional factors which can bind nutrients thereby hindering their bioavailability. While there are other methods that can be used to enhance nutrient utilization from such foods, we summarize how food processing methods such as extrusion and nixtamalization are employed to break the food matrix and release these nutrients. Both extrusion and nixtamalization can break down complex carbohydrates into simpler, more soluble forms while at the same time inactivating or denaturing protein inhibitors and other antinutritional factors. Such disruptions of complexes within the food matrix are essential for harnessing optimum nutritional and health benefit from these foods. We present mechanistic approaches explaining how these processes enhance nutrient and mineral bioavailability and phytochemical bioactivity while minimizing the undesirable effects of antinutritional factors that coexist in the complex food matrix.

Functional and thermal properties of yellow pea and red lentil extrudates produced by nitrogen gas injection assisted extrusion cooking

BACKGROUND

There are excellent opportunities for greater incorporation into our diets of pulses, which are rich in proteins and dietary fibers, if their functional properties are modified to fit a wide range of applications in the food industry. The objective of this research was to produce high protein and fiber extrudates from yellow pea and red lentil flours using conventional and N2 gas injection assisted extrusion cooking methods. The effects of process variables on extrudate functional and thermal properties were also investigated.

RESULTS

The cold viscosity of extrudates produced by N2 gas injection were higher than those produced by conventional extrusion, indicating that gas-assisted extrusion does affect the end-product pasting properties. At higher barrel temperatures (150-175 °C) extrudates did not exhibit any thermal transition in their thermograms, and thus their starches were completely gelatinized and proteins completely denatured during extrusion. In general, water solubility of extrudates produced by N2 gas injection was significantly (P < 0.05) higher than those produced by conventional extrusion. Emulsion capacity and stability of yellow pea extrudates were in the range of 44-50% and 42-47%, respectively, and the counterpart values of red lentil extrudates were very similar (in the range of 43-47% and 43-46%, respectively).

CONCLUSION

Nitrogen gas injection assisted extrusion cooking can be used practically in development of pulse extrudates which contain high protein and dietary fiber. This novel and innovative technique is a reliable alternative method to the conventional CO2 gas injection assisted extrusion cooking methods in the snack food and food ingredient industries. © 2019 Society of Chemical Industry.