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Background and objectives: Free asparagine (ASN) is the precursor to the formation of acrylamide, which is a probable neurotoxic and carcinogenic compound formed during high‐temperature (>120°C) processing of starchy foods, such as cereal‐based products. Controlling the acrylamide concentration of cereal‐based products, for example, bread, within the allowable levels established by the European Commission, is necessary for food safety purposes. One effective measure recommended by the European Commission to mitigate acrylamide in cereal‐based products is to reduce free ASN levels in raw ingredients, for example, wheat. Therefore, knowledge of free ASN levels in Canadian commercial wheat and the strategies to reduce its formation is necessary for the Canadian wheat industry to secure global market access for Canadian wheat. The objective of this study was to understand the effects of genotype, growing environment, and fertilization on free ASN concentration of whole‐wheat flour from Western Canadian wheat varieties. Findings: The free ASN concentration of whole‐wheat flours in this study ranged from 281 to 1,014 µg/g (dry basis). The variation in free ASN levels in wheat was mainly influenced by the growing environment (44%), followed by genotype (31%) and the interaction between genotype and environment (18%). Although being significant, the effects of fertilization and interactions involving fertilization on free ASN concentration in whole‐wheat flour were minimal (0.7%–2.2%). Conclusion: Growing wheat genotypes in suitable environments, along with the selection of wheat genotypes with lower potential for free ASN formation, are the most effective strategies to control free ASN levels in Canadian wheat. Significance and novelty: Limited knowledge in regard to free ASN concentration and the strategies to reduce its formation in Canadian wheat may have a serious impact on Canadian wheat access to global markets, especially the European market. This study provides an understanding of the effects of growing environment, genotype, and fertilization on free ASN concentration of select Western Canadian commercial wheat varieties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Starch is widely utilized in the food industry, but its native form may have limitations in terms of functionality and nutrition. This study examines the characteristics of native oat starch and explores its potential for chemical modification by cross‐linking, with the aim of gaining a deeper understanding of its functionality. Citrate‐modified oat starch (COS) is generated by cross‐linking native oat starch (NOS) with citric acid. Chemical analysis reveals distinctions between NOS and COS, notably in terms of resistant starch content, which is elevated in COS. X‐ray diffraction (XRD) results reveal that NOS exhibits crystalline peaks characteristic of A‐type starch, distinguishing it from COS. In contrast, COS displays absent crystalline peaks, attributed to cross‐linking. Swelling factor, solubility, and paste clarity along with most of the pasting properties are found to be significantly lower for COS compared to NOS. The scanning electron microscopic images show how cross‐linking can alter the morphology of the NOS. The findings from this investigation highlight significant distinctions between NOS and COS. The cross‐linking process successfully enhances the resistant starch content and imparted distinctive properties absent in native oat starch. Consequently, there is potential for incorporating modified oat starch as a food ingredient. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effect of feruloylated arabinoxylan mono- and oligosaccharides (FAXmo) on mammalian α-glucosidase and glucose transporters was investigated using human Caco-2 cells, rat intestinal acetone powder, and Xenopus laevis oocytes. The isolated FAXmo from wheat aleurone and corn bran were identified to have degree of polymerization (DP) of 4 and 1, respectively, by HPLC-MS. Both FAXmo extracts were effective inhibitors of sucrase and maltase functions of the α-glucosidase. The IC50 for FAXmo extracts on Caco-2 cells and rat intestinal α-glucosidase was 1.03–1.65 mg/mL and 2.6–6.5 mg/mL, respectively. Similarly, glucose uptake in Caco-2 cells was inhibited up to 40%. The inhibitory effect of FAXmo was dependent on their ferulic acid (FA) content (R = 0.95). Sodium independent glucose transporter 2 (GLUT2) activity was completely inhibited by FAXmo in oocytes injected to express GLUT2. Our results suggest that ferulic acid and feruloylated arabinoxylan mono-/oligosaccharides have potential for use in diabetes management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]