Dietary fibre comprises non˗digestible carbohydrates, including resistant starch, and lignin, and it is an important constituent of a healthy diet. The aim was to define the influence of particle ...size on contents determined for dietary fibre and resistant starch in unprocessed grain and canned legumes. Five samples of unprocessed and processed grains were analysed, as oatmeal, buckwheat, dehulled barley, wheat and spelt, and three canned legumes, as beans, chickpeas and peas, with and without their brine. Samples were initially milled unscreened, and then again through 500 μm or 350 μm screens. For unprocessed grain samples, there was generally no influence of particle size, except for the 350-μm milling of dehulled barley, with significantly decreased contents determined for insoluble dietary fibre and resistant starch presumably due to damaging of starch granules and disrupting crystalline formation of starch. For canned legumes with and without their brine, particle size had little effect on contents determined for dietary fibre and resistant starch.
Fructans can be considered as part of the group of fermentable oligo-, di- and monosaccharides and polyols (FODMAPs). Short-chain fructans have a rapid fermentation rate and can thus worsen symptoms ...in patients with irritable bowel syndrome. In this study, the fructan content in 40 of the most commonly consumed foods in Slovenia was measured. Overall, the fructan content was relatively low: 0.1–1.97 g/100 g fresh weight. The highest fructan content was found in onion (1.97 g/100 g), followed by wheat flour (0.75 g/100 g). A simple model for calculating fructan intake was developed based on the results of the SI. Menu 2017/2018 national survey, which collected data on the frequency of intake of different foods and food groups (expressed in g/day). After calculating the daily intake of the surveyed foods, we used our results on fructan content to estimate daily fructan consumption. Mean daily fructan intake reaches 1.6–1.7 g/day, with no differences between men and women. Our assessment of fructan intake at the national level represents the first step toward the creation of a database on FODMAP intake.
Dietary fibre has proven to promote healthy body mass and reduce the risk of non-communicable diseases. To date, in Slovenia, there were only a few outdated studies of dietary fibre intake; ...therefore, we explored the dietary fibre intake using food consumption data collected in the SI.Menu project. Following the EU Menu methodology, data were collected on representative samples of adolescents, adults, and elderlies using a general questionnaire, a food propensity questionnaire, and two 24 h recalls. The results indicate that the intake of dietary fibre in Slovenia is lower than recommended. The proportion of the population with inadequate fibre intakes (<30 g/day) was 90.6% in adolescents, 89.6% in adults, and 83.9% in elderlies, while mean daily fibre intakes were 19.5, 20.9, and 22.4 g, respectively. Significant determinants for inadequate dietary fibre intake were sex in adolescents and adults, and body mass index in adults. The main food groups contributing to dietary fibre intake were bread and other grain products, vegetables and fruits, with significant differences between population groups. Contribution of fruits and vegetables to mean daily dietary fibre intake was highest in elderlies (11.6 g), followed by adults (10.6 g) and adolescents (8.5 g). Public health strategies, such as food reformulation, promoting whole-meal alternatives, consuming whole foods of plant origin, and careful planning of school meals could beneficially contribute to the overall dietary fibre intake in the population.
Bee products are a natural source of nutrients and biologically active compounds, which may also be found on the lists of functional ingredients. In our diets, mainly honey is used and to a lesser ...extent bee pollen and royal jelly. Propolis and bee venom are mainly used in apitherapy due to their therapeutic properties. Regarding the basic nutrients, honey is primarily a source of sugars, while protein and fat contents are considerable in royal jelly and pollen, which also contains dietary fiber. Bee products also contain small amounts of bioactive compounds that have antioxidant, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory and antiviral effects. Honey is characterized by, among others, phenolic compounds, royal jelly proteins, oligosaccharides. Royal jelly contains specific fatty acids, including 10-hydroxy-2-decenoic acid, bioactive peptides, major royal jelly proteins, and pollen contains various vitamins, phenolic compounds, amino acids, unsaturated fatty acids. However, further research and clinical studies are needed to evaluate the effectiveness of bee products and to raise consumer awareness of the importance of their consumption. Honey, bee pollen and royal jelly are natural foods, which due to their composition may help to achieve the recommended daily intake of basic nutrients, and may also serve as a source of important bioactive compounds, and therefore undoubtedly belong to a balanced diet.
The geographical origin of three Slovenian unifloral honey types (black locust, lime and chestnut) was investigated by analysis of some physico-chemical parameters, the elemental content using total ...reflection X-ray fluorescence spectrometry (TXRF) and the stable carbon and nitrogen isotope ratios using isotope ratio mass spectrometry (IRMS). The results were interpreted by chemometric methods. A total of 122 samples of Slovenian black locust, lime and chestnut honeys were collected from domestic beekeepers all over Slovenia for three years. Slovenia is a small country by area, but paedologically and climatically diverse, therefore offering interesting possibilities for studying geographical influences. The combination of the investigated parameters offers the possibility of distinguishing among samples of specific honey types from the four different Slovenian natural-geographical macroregions, namely the Alpine, Dinaric, Pannonnian and Mediterranean regions. Lime honey samples were 100% correctly classified, while the success rates for black locust and chestnut honeys were slightly lower at 98.2% and 94.6%, respectively.
Isotope parameters (δ13Choney, δ13Cprotein, δ15N) were determined for 271 honey samples of 7 types (black locust, multifloral, lime, chestnut, forest, spruce, and fir honeys) from 4 natural ...geographical regions of Slovenia. Carbon and nitrogen stable isotope ratios were measured to elucidate the applicability of this method in the identification of the botanical and geographical origin of honey and in honey adulteration. Only 2.2% of the samples were adulterated according to the internal standard carbon isotope ratio analysis method. Botanical origin did not have any major influence on the honey isotope profiles; only black locust honey showed higher δ13C values. Some differences were seen across different production years, indicating that the influence of season should be further tested. Statistical and multivariate analyses demonstrated differences among honeys of various geographical origins. Those from the Alpine region had low δ13C (−26.0‰) and δ15N values (1.1‰); those from the Mediterranean region, high δ13C (−24.6‰) and medium δ15N values (2.2‰); those from the Pannonian region, medium δ13C (−25.6‰) and high δ15N value (3.0‰); and those from the Dinaric region, medium δ13C (−25.7‰) and low δ15N values (1.4‰).
Dietary fibre is an important constituent of a healthy diet, composed of non-digestible carbohydrates and lignin. Over the last decades dietary fibre has gained importance for human nutrition, due to ...its beneficial effects on health. In addition to classical enzyme-gravimetric methods, new methods for the determination of total, insoluble and soluble dietary fibres in foods have recently been developed, but have not yet been fully implemented for use. For the purpose of creating food composition databases and for food labelling, the classical AOAC 985.29 and 991.43 methods are still widely used. The methods are enzyme-gravimetric and therefore sensitive to enzyme kinetics. The aim of the study was to investigate the effect of milling fraction and mixing of the sample on dietary fibre content determined with the AOAC method 991.43. The results showed that milling fraction significantly influences the content of dietary fibre, especially in unprocessed or slightly processed cereals, the mixing acts synergistically with milling. According to the results it is proposed to mill the sample between 200 and 500 μm. For accurate determination of dietary fibre content, it is necessary to prepare the sample correctly, since the AOAC 991.43 method is, despite its robustness, sensitive during the sample preparation step.
The chemical composition as well as the antioxidant and antimicrobial activities of two EtOH extracts of propolis (PEEs) from Slovenia were determined. EtOH was used as extracting solvent at 70 and ...96%, providing the extracts PEE70 and PEE96, respectively. The extraction with 70% EtOH was more efficient than that with 96% EtOH, as the PEE70 was richer in total phenolic compounds than the PEE96. The Slovenian propolis was characterized by different phenolic acids and flavonoids. The PEE96 was slightly richer in three specific compounds, i.e., caffeic acid, ferulic acid, and luteolin, while all other substances detected showed higher contents in the PEE70. The PEE70 showed a stronger reducing power and ability to scavenge free radicals and metal ions than the PEE96. Both PEEs were in the main more effective against Gram‐positive bacteria than against fungi and Gram‐negative bacteria like Salmonella and Escherichia coli, with the exception of Campylobacter. The PEE96 decreased the intracellular oxidation in Saccharomyces cerevisiae in a dose‐dependent manner. The antimicrobial activities and antioxidant properties were related to the total phenolic contents. The two PEEs have the potential for use as natural antimicrobial and antioxidant additives in foods.
Chestnut honey is well-described in terms of sensory properties, pollen and chemical composition. Specific bitter taste is accompanied with other typical sensory properties derived from its chemical ...composition, especially in the nectar of sweet chestnut. Compounds from other sources of nectar and honeydew, especially linden, fir and spruce, with smaller amounts from meadow plants, create the specific sensory and chemical properties of Slovene chestnut honey. Based on the chemical composition of the honey, especially the content and proportions of different inorganic ions, it is possible to track the geographical origin of the pasture. Bees contribute significantly to recognized antimicrobial properties of honey by secretion of enzymes and antimicrobial peptides via the food processing glands. When the honey is used for medical purposes, we have to take precautions to avoid microbial and chemical contamination. For the planning of specific use of honey as a medical application we need to explore in detail specific pharmacological properties of single compounds from the chestnut honey and its contribution to the whole activity during wound treatment. In this paper we present a review of most distinct properties of chestnut honey important for its medical application.
Honey samples from the seven most common honey types in Slovenia were screened for total phenolic content by the modified Folin–Ciocalteu method, for potential antioxidant activity using the ferric ...reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) assay and by the 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) method for antiradical activity. In addition the colour characteristics of honey samples were analysed. The results of the study showed that total phenolic content, antioxidant activity and colour parameters differ widely among different honey types. Phenolic content expressed as gallic acid equivalent ranged from 44.8
mg/kg in acacia honey to 241.4
mg/kg in fir honey. Antioxidant activity was the lowest in the brightest acacia and lime honeys and the highest in darker honeys, namely fir, spruce and forest. The colour of the Slovenian honeys, analysed in this study was very variable and ranged from pale yellow to dark brown. Correlations between the parameters analysed were found to be statistically significant (
p
<
0.05).
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