Advances in Food and Nutrition Research最新文献

Pigments-producing microorganisms are quite common in Nature. However, there is a long journey from the Petri dish to the market place. Twenty-five years ago, scientists wondered if such productions would remain a scientific oddity or become an industrial reality. The answer is not straightforward as processes using fungi, bacteria or yeasts can now indeed provide carotenoids or phycocyanin at an industrial level. Another production factor to consider is peculiar as Monascus red colored food is consumed by more than one billion Asian people; however, still banned in many other countries. European and American consumers will follow as soon as "100%-guaranteed" toxin-free strains (molecular engineered strains, citrinin gene deleted strains) will be developed and commercialized at a world level. For other pigmented biomolecules, some laboratories and companies invested and continue to invest a lot of money as any combination of new source and/or new pigment requires a lot of experimental work, process optimization, toxicological studies, and regulatory approval. Time will tell whether investments in pigments such as azaphilones or anthraquinones were justified. Future trends involve combinatorial engineering, gene knock-out, and the production of niche pigments not found in plants such as C50 carotenoids or aryl carotenoids.

The demand for meat alternatives has been growing in the recent years and it is expected to keep expanding. Motives driving this growth are diverse and are mostly related to the health and ethical concerns over animal welfare and the possible impact of meat production on the environment. Meat alternatives are not anymore a niche market (i.e., vegetarians and vegans) but going mainstream (also consumed by meat eaters and flexitarians). This can be attributed to advances in formulations and ingredients and innovative technologies resulting in improved quality of products. This chapter summarizes the current knowledge about meat alternatives (from plant, fungi or/and algae). Plant-based alternatives are already a proofed commodity with a wide range of products available in the market. The search for more sustainable sources had put the spotlight on other sources such as fungi and algae due to their limited need to land, energy and water for biomass production. Fungi-based alternatives are steps ahead of those algae-based owing to fungi neutral flavor, comparable nutritional profile to meat and no need to masking agents. Consumer acceptance is still a key challenge boosting research and development efforts to ensure a better quality, affordability, and sustainability.

Food proteins, depending on their origin, possess unique characteristics that regulate blood glucose via multiple physiological mechanisms, including the insulinotropic effects of amino acids, the activation of incretins, and slowing gastric emptying rate. The strategies aimed at curbing high blood glucose are important in preventing impaired blood glucose control, including insulin resistance, prediabetes and diabetes. The effect of proteins on blood glucose control can be achieved with high-protein foods short-term, and high-protein diets long-term using foods that are naturally high in protein, such as dairy, meat, soy and pulses, or by formulating high-protein functional food products using protein concentrates and isolates, or blended mixtures of proteins from different sources. Commercial sources of protein powders are represented by proteins and hydrolysates of caseins, whey proteins and their fractions, egg whites, soy, yellow pea and hemp which will be reviewed in this chapter. The effective doses of food protein that are capable of reducing postprandial glycemia start from 7 to 10g and higher per serving; however, the origin of protein, and macronutrient composition of a meal will determine the magnitude and duration of their effect on glycemia. The theoretical and methodological framework to evaluate the effect of foods, including food proteins, on postprandial glycemia for substantiation of health claims on food has been proposed in Canada and is discussed in the context of global efforts to harmonize the international food regulation and labeling.

Plant-derived bioactive compounds have been extensively studied and used within food industry for the last few decades. Those compounds have been used to extend the shelf-life and improve physico-chemical and sensory properties on food products. They have also been used as nutraceuticals due to broad range of potential health-promoting properties. Unlike the synthetic additives, the natural plant-derived compounds are more acceptable and often regarded as safer by the consumers. This chapter summarizes the extraction methods and sources of those plant-derived bioactives as well as recent findings in relation to their health-promoting properties, including cardio-protective, anti-diabetic, anti-inflammatory, anti-carcinogenic, immuno-modulatory and neuro-protective properties. In addition, the impact of applying those plant-derived compounds on seafood products is also investigated by reviewing the recent studies on their use as anti-microbial, anti-oxidant, coloring and flavoring agents as well as freshness indicators. Moreover, the current limitations of the use of plant-derived bioactive compounds as well as future prospects are discussed. The discoveries show high potential of those compounds and the possibility to apply on many different seafood. The compounds can be applied as individual while more and more studies are showing synergetic effect when those compounds are used in combination providing new important research possibilities.

Produced from proliferating cells in bioreactors with a controlled culture medium, "cultured meat" has been presented by its supporters, who are mainly private actors (start-ups), as a sustainable solution to meet the growing demand for animal proteins without weaknesses of animal husbandry in terms of environmental impact, animal welfare or even health. The aim of this chapter is to take stock of current knowledge on the potential benefits and pitfalls of this novel product. Since robust scientific arguments are lacking on these aspects, there is no consensus on the health and nutritional qualities of "cultured meat" for human consumption and on its potential low environmental impact. In addition, many issues related to the market, legislation, ethics and consumer perception remain to be addressed. The way in which this new product is regarded appears to be influenced by many factors related mainly to its price, as well as to the perception of safety, sensory traits but also environmental and nutritional issues. Therefore, research by universities and public research institutes indicates that "cultured meat" production does not present any major advantages in economic, nutritional, sensory, environmental, ethical or social terms compared to conventional meat. Thus, a more balanced diet by diversifying our sources of plant and animal proteins, consuming other meat substitutes, and reducing food losses and waste appear to be more effective short-term solutions to the urgent need of producing enough food for the growing human population (while reducing environmental degradation and animal suffering).

Bioactive compounds in foods, nutraceuticals and pharmaceutical have been gaining interest due to health benefits, which can help to reduce the risk of certain chronic diseases. Recently, nanoencapsulation have attract attention because it is an efficient and promising approach for protection of bioactive compounds, and delivery them to the target physiological sites for controlled release and improvement absorption. Food proteins are promising materials to be fabricated into a variety of nanostructured delivery systems because of their high nutritional value, good functional properties, and health-benefiting effects. Various techniques and approaches are utilized to prepare nanostructured food protein. This chapter introduces the major techniques for the fabrication of nanoparticles and nanoemulsions from food proteins. The basic principles, advantages, and limitations of the techniques are discussed. The encapsulation and release of bioactive compounds in different nanostructured food proteins are illustrated in specific case studies. Due to the fast growing interest of bioactive encapsulation in various sectors, this chapter is of importance for guiding the development of nanostructured food protein loaded with bioactive ingredients for food, nutraceutical and pharmaceutical applications.

The demand for proteins continues to increase due to their nutritional benefits, the growing world population, and rising protein deficiency. Plant-based proteins represent a sustainable source to supplement costly animal proteins. Pea (Pisum sativum L.) is one of the most produced plant legume crops in the world and contributes to 26% of the total pulse production. The average protein content of pea is about 20%-25%. The commercial utilization of pea proteins is limited, partially due to its less desirable functionalities and beany off-flavor. Protein modification may change these properties and broaden the application of pea proteins in the food industry. Functional properties such as protein solubility, water and oil holding capacity, emulsifying/foaming capacity and stability, and gelation can be altered and improved by enzymatic, chemical, and physical modifications. These modifications work by affecting protein chemical structures, hydrophobicity/hydrophilicity balance, and interactions with other food constituents. Modifiers, reaction conditions, and degree of modifications are critical variables for protein modifications and can be controlled to achieve desirable functional attributes that may meet applications in meat analogs, baking products, dressings, beverages, dairy mimics, encapsulation, and emulsions. Understanding pea protein characteristics will allow us to design better functional ingredients for food applications.

Food protein is an essential macronutrient. Even though daily per capita supply of protein has increased globally from 61g in 1961 to 81g in 2013, and most people in the developed world have sufficient protein intake from their diets, however, protein deficiencies continue to be pervasive globally. Protein deficiency is the single major factor responsible for impaired growth and suboptimal health worldwide. Animal proteins are high quality and contain adequate and balanced amino acids, animal protein production however is inefficient and resource intensive. Alternative proteins are expected to provide the solution to meet the growing protein demand within the environmental limits. Alternative proteins include proteins from plants (i.e., grains, legumes, pulse, and nuts), fungus (i.e., mushrooms), algae, insects and cultured (lab-grown) meat that can be used to replace conventional animal proteins. Major concerns for human consumption of alternative proteins are inferior organoleptic properties, consumer acceptability, affordability, and sustainability. There is a need to develop culturally diversified alternative proteins to mitigate global protein malnutrition. Food proteins are also found applications in biomaterials and as a source of bioactive peptides.