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The article discusses the nutritional value of vegetable feed ingredients used in swine diets. It refers to protein structural changes during the process of vegetable feed ingredients and outlines its impact on protein digestibility. It examines the effect of shear on protein structure using extrusion and mentioned the nutritional consequences of the processing condition.

In the present double-blind, randomised, parallel intervention study, the effects of the intake of galacto-oligosaccharides (GOS) on the gut microbiota of twelve healthy adult subjects (aged 18–45 years with a normal BMI (18–25 kg/m2)) receiving amoxicillin (AMX) treatment were determined. All the subjects were treated with AMX (375 mg; three times per d) for 5 d and given either GOS (n 6) or placebo (maltodextrin, n 6) (2·5 g; three times per d) during and 7 d after AMX treatment. Faecal samples were collected twice before starting the treatment and on days 2, 5, 8, 12, 19 and 26. Due to AMX treatment, a decrease in the abundance of Bifidobacterium spp., an overgrowth of Enterobacteriaceae, and a disruption of the metabolic activity of the microbiota (increase in succinate, monosaccharide and oligosaccharide levels in the faecal samples) were observed in both groups (P< 0·05). Positive effects of GOS intake were observed on the levels of bifidobacteria, although not found to be significant. Data revealed that the levels of bifidobacteria were higher upon GOS intake than upon placebo intake, especially after AMX treatment. The activity of bifidobacteria and subsequent cross-feeding activity of the microbiota upon GOS intake compared with those upon placebo intake were reflected by the significant increase in butyrate levels (P< 0·05) in the faecal samples after AMX treatment. Despite the small number of subjects, our findings confirm previous results obtained in vitro, namely that GOS intake supports the recovery of the beneficial bifidobacteria and, indirectly, the production of butyrate after AMX treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Peanut allergen Ara h 3 has been the subject of investigation for the last few years. The reported data strongly depend on recombinant Ara h 3, since a purification protocol for Ara h 3 from peanuts was not available. Peanut allergen Ara h 3 (glycinin), was purified and its posttranslational processing was investigated. Its allergenic properties were determined by studying IgE binding characteristics of the purified protein. Ara h 3 consists of a series of polypeptides ranging from approximately 14 to 45 kDa that can be classified as acidic and basic subunits, similar to the subunit organization of soy glycinin. N-terminal sequences of the individual polypeptides were determined, and using the cDNA deduced amino-acid sequence, the organization into subunits was explained by revealing posttranslational processing of the different polypeptides. IgE-binding properties ofAra h 3 were investigated using direct elisa and Western blotting with sera from peanut-allergic individuals. The basic subunits, and to a lesser extent the acidic subunits, bind IgE and may act as allergenic peptides. We conclude that peanut-derived Ara h 3, in contrast to earlier reported recombinant Ara h 3, resembles, to a large extent, the molecular organization typical for proteins from the glycinin family. Furthermore, posttranslational processing of Ara h 3 affects the IgE-binding properties and is therefore an essential subject of study for research on the allergenicity of Ara h 3. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The quality of in vivo aroma release measurements of beverages can be improved when a strict protocol is used to control variation in aroma release due to human factors. A trained panel was able to significantly discriminate between aqueous aroma solutions with a concentration difference as low as 17%. This protocol and headspace measurements have been applied to a lemon-lime type beverage with either bulk or low-calorie intense sweeteners. The ingredients examined did not influence aroma release at concentrations relevant to the beverage industry. Aroma release was only affected by very high concentrations of sucrose. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BSTRACT: Bread doughs supplemented with xylanase and xylanase plus peroxidase were fractionated into 4 insoluble and 3 soluble fractions. Chemical analysis and high-performance size-exclusion chromatography analysis of apparent molecular weight distribution indicated that xylanase acts on both cold-water-extractable arabinoxylans and on those that can be solubilized from cell wall fragments by hot water extraction. Peroxidase action increased the amount of insoluble small cell wall fragments, notably the amount of protein and arabinoxylan. Arabinoxylans were retained in the small cell wall fragments because cross-linking of arabinoxylans through ferulic acid residues to other arabinoxylans rendered them insoluble. Peroxidase did not affect the composition of gluten, nor was evidence obtained for peroxidase-catalyzed cross-linking of arabinoxylans to protein in the gluten and other fractions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: DDMP saponin can be converted to saponin B by the loss of its DDMP group (2,3-dihydro-2,5-dihydroxy-6-methyl-4H-pyran-4-one). The stability of DDMP saponin from pea was investigated under various conditions (temperature, ethanol concentration, pH). DDMP saponin in water was observed to be unstable at acidic and alkaline pHs, and to have an optimal stability around pH 7. In water, DDMP saponin became unstable at temperatures >30°C. The presence of ethanol, however, had a stabilizing effect on the DDMP group. The loss of the DDMP group at 65°C could be completely prevented at >30% (v/v) ethanol. The breakdown reaction of DDMP saponin and the subsequent formation of saponin B was modelled using a multi-response modelling approach and was found to be best described by a first-order reaction. The activation energy was estimated to be 49kJ/mol, indicating a chemical reaction with moderate temperature dependence. A mechanism of DDMP saponin decomposition is proposed, consisting of a fast protonation or deprotonation, followed by a rate-determining step in which maltol is the leaving group. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

A miniaturised set-up for gluten-starch separation was used to systematically study the effect of water unextractable solids (WUS) on the formation and properties of gluten. The results showed that WUS not only have a negative effect on gluten yield, but also affect gluten and glutenin macropolymer (GMP) composition and rheological properties. The negative effect of WUS on gluten yield could be compensated for to a large extent, but not completely, by increasing mixing time and mixing water. Adding xylanase can effectively counteract the effect of WUS. On the basis of these results we hypothesize that WUS interfere with gluten formation in both a direct and an indirect way. WUS interfere indirectly by competing for water and thus changing conditions for gluten development. This effect can be corrected for by the combination of adding more 0·2% NaCl solution during dough mixing and a longer mixing time. The particulate nature of WUS requires that the direct effect occurs through an interaction between WUS particles and gluten particles. Both effects of WUS can be counteracted through the use of xylanase. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]