Serum Lipids in Hypercholesterolemic Men and Women Consuming Oat Bran and Amaranth Products

One hundred‐eighty hypercholesterolemic subjects following the National Cholesterol Education Program Step One Diet were randomly divided into six groups (30 ± 2/group). Group 1 served as the control and received no fiber supplements. The fiber supplemented groups received 50 g/day of oat bran or amaranth from various sources: Group 2 (oat bran muffins); Group 3 (amaranth muffins); Group 4 (Oat Bran O's); Group 5 (Oat Bran Flakes); and Group 6 (a variety of oat bran products). Fasting serum total cholesterol (FSTC), low density‐, very low density‐, and high density‐lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL‐C, VLDL‐C, and HDL‐C) and serum triacylglycerols were measured before and after the 28‐day intervention. Three‐day diet records were completed before and after intervention. Subjects reduced (P < 0.05) the mean intake of total and saturated fat, and cholesterol. FSTC dropped more than twice as much (P < 0.05) as was observed with fat modification alone (Group 1 = ‐0.31 mmol/L), when oat bran was provided as flakes (Group 5 = ‐0.86 mmol/L) or in a variety of forms (Group 6 = ‐0.75 mmol/L). If the initial ratio of HDL‐C to FSTC was low, then supplementation did not decrease FSTC to the extent observed when the initial ratio was high. Compliance with the dietary interventions was best when the subjects gave the product a rating of ≤2.0 (on a 1–4 hedonic scale, with 1 being excellent). We can conclude from these data that fiber supplementation to reduce serum cholesterol is most effective in hypercholesterolemic individuals that have a greater proportion of HDL‐C. In addition, not all the oat bran products evaluated were able to lower cholesterol to the same extent, indicating that the ability of soluble fiber to reduce FSTC can be compromised by other dietary factors such as insoluble fiber.     

Effect of Extrusion Cooking on Extractable Lipids and Fatty Acid Composition in Sifted Oat Flour

Sifted oat flour was processed at 25.0, 27.5, and 30.0% moisture content in a twin-screw extruder at screw speed 300 rpm. The preset temperatures of the extruder barrel were 120, 150, or 180°C. Raw material and extrudates were analyzed for the content of diethyl ether-extractable lipids, with and without hydrolysis, and the content of chloroformmethanol-water saturated butanol (C/M/WSB) extractable lipids. The lipid extracts were analyzed for fatty acid (FA) composition. Percentage distribution of palmitic, oleic, and linoleic acids were significantly different in the different lipid extracts. Extrusion processing influenced the amounts of extractable lipids, while FA composition was not affected.     

Accumulation of Oxygenated Fatty Acids in Oat Lipids During Storage

Oxygenated fatty acids were identified in oat grain by gas chromatography‐mass spectrometry. We hypothesized that most of these were the results of lipoxygenase activity. This hypothesis was tested by measuring concentrations of these compounds after hydrothermal treatments and storage of oat groats or oat flour for 22 weeks at 37°C and 65% relative humidity. Steam treatments inactivated lipases, whereas roasting at 106°C did not. Free fatty acids accumulated quickly in untreated or roasted flour, but not in steamed flour or groats. A total of six hydroxy and epoxy fatty acids were identified. Oxidized fatty acids were found in both esterified lipids and free fatty acids, indicating that lipase action was not necessary for lipid oxidation. More oxidation products were found in flour than in groats, and less were found in the steamed treatments. Lipoperoxygenase appeared to be involved in the formation of oxidation products, although nonenzymatic mechanisms may also operate. Hydroxy‐fatty acids are associated with strongly bitter flavors and are undesirable. Results indicate the importance of enzyme inactivation before storage of processed oat products.     

Soluble and Insoluble Dietary Fiber Content and Composition in Oat

Six oat genotypes were grown in nursery yield trials during 1989-1992 at Lisbon, ND. Groats were analyzed for soluble and insoluble dietary fiber content and composition. Genotype-by-growing year interaction was not significant for soluble or insoluble dietary fiber. Soluble and insoluble dietary fiber differed with genotype (6.0–7.1% and 4.1– 4.9%, respectively) and with growing year (6.0–6.9% and 3.9–5.2%, respectively). The genotype-by-growing year interaction was significant for soluble β-glucan content but not for total neutral sugar or uronic acid content of the soluble dietary fiber. Genotypes did vary in total neutral sugar content but not in uronic acid content. The genotype-by-growing year interaction was not significant for total neutral sugar, β-glucan, uronic acid, or Klason lignin content of insoluble dietary fiber. Genotypes did vary in total neutral sugar, β-glucan, and Klason lignin content but not in uronic acid content of insoluble dietary fiber. The neutral sugar content of soluble dietary fiber was composed of glucose, arabinose, xylose, and galactose. The neutral sugar content of insoluble fiber was composed of glucose, arabinose, and xylose. The content and composition of soluble and insoluble dietary fiber varied with oat genotype. Therefore, oat genotypes could be bred for specific dietary fiber content and composition.     

Effect of Nutrim Oat Bran and Flaxseed on Rheological Properties of Cakes

Cake shortening contents were replaced with Nutrim oat bran (OB) and flaxseed powder, and the effects of these substitutions on the physical and rheological properties of cakes were investigated. Cakes with shortening replaced up to 40% by weight possessed a volume similar to that of the control cake produced with shortening. Replacement using Nutrim OB and flaxseed powder revealed significant color changes in both the cake crust and crumb. At high levels of substitution, the cake crust became lighter, while the crumb darkened. At >40% by weight substitution with either Nutrim OB or flaxseed, the cakes displayed increased hardness; however, cohesiveness and springiness increased gradually with increasing substitution. Increased substitution with Nutrim OB caused an increase in the measured shear viscosity and oscillatory storage and loss moduli of the cakes. Increased substitution with flaxseed caused decreases in these rheological parameters. Additional rheological experiments were performed to elucidate changes in the formulations during the baking process and indicated an increase in the elasticity of the baked batter with decreasing shortening.     

Effect of Drying Treatment Conditions on Sensory Profile of Germinated Oat

Germination and subsequent drying of oat produced significantly different sensory profiles depending on processing parameters such as drying speed and temperature profile. The most salient sensory attributes for processed oat were roasted odor and flavor, sweet taste, intense odor, intense aftertaste, and hard, crisp, brittle texture (P < 0.05). High temperatures (>85°C) were necessary to produce these sensory attributes, and quick drying after germination resulted in higher levels of intensity of favorable sensory attributes. The total amount of volatile compounds was higher in native (ungerminated) oat than in processed oat. During germination, and particularly during the drying treatment, the profile of volatile compounds changed. The most abundant volatile compounds responsible for odor were dimethyl sulfide, hexanal, pentanal, and iso butanal. The relative amount of dimethyl sulfide increased as a function of temperature in drying, whereas hexanal, pentanal, and isobutanal disappeared during heating, as did several other small ketones, alcohols, and esters. The germinated oat dried at high temperatures (65–93°C and 65–85°C) was perceived as being roasted, sweet, and nutty. Sensory and instrumental profile analyses of selected volatile compounds using partial least squares (PLS) regression techniques showed that these sensory attributes were clearly related to dimethyl sulfides and isobutanol. A moist and earthy odor was related to cymene, limonene, and isobutanal. Phenolic compounds significantly influenced oat flavor, whereas lipids had a negligible effect.     

Effect of Modified Oat Starch and Protein on Batter Properties and Quality of Cake

Starch and protein separated from oat were chemically modified using cross‐linking and acetylation protocols for starch, and deamidation and succinylation for protein isolate. Cross‐linking decreased swelling power of starch, whereas syneresis increased, but cross‐linking does not have a significant effect on gelatinization temperature. Acetylation increased swelling power, but gelatinization temperature and syneresis diminished. Deamidation and succinylation increased nitrogen solubility index, emulsion activity, foaming capacity, and water and oil binding capacity. Emulsion stability did not change with deamidation and it diminished with succinylation, while foaming stability decreased with both treatments. Acetylated starch and two types of modified proteins were substituted for 5, 10, 15, and 20% of oat flour to bake cake samples and then physical properties of the cakes were measured. Acetylated starch increased batter viscosity, cake volume, and whiteness of cake crust. Increased level of deamidated protein produced cakes with lower batter viscosity, higher volume, and darker color (increase in redness). Application of higher levels of succinylated protein led to higher batter viscosity and lightness, and lower cake volume. Therefore, substitution of deamidated protein and acetylated starch can improve cake properties.     

Effect of Tristearin and Other Functional Fats on Blood Lipids in Hamsters

Groups of hamsters were fed diets containing tristearin (TS), a baker's shortening (BS), soybean oil (SO), a blend (BL) of TS and SO, or a hard fat (HF). Only BS contained trans fatty acids. After four weeks, serum total cholesterol (T-CH) levels were most elevated in hamsters fed HF. In comparison, hamsters fed BS, BL, or SO showed 13.3, 15.4, or 23.7% reduction in serum T-CH, respectively. Reduction in serum T-CH was even more pronounced in hamsters fed TS. However, this group also showed poor weight gains, apparently because only 16.2% of ingested TS was absorbed. Reduction in T-CH occurred due to reduction of both high-density-lipoprotein (HDL)-CH and non-HDL-CH, but the pattern of reductions still favored lower T-CH-to-HDL-CH ratios. Like T-CH, serum TG levels were also most elevated in hamsters fed HF, with other groups showing significant reductions. Liver CH responses did not conform to responses observed for serum CH and TG levels. Tested in selected baked products prepared in-house, blended fat (BL) was found as functional as regular BS, and it contained no trans fatty acids.     

The Effect of Light on the Accumulation of Lipids in Seeds

To investigate the effects of light on the accumulation of lipids in seeds, fruits of both peanut and soybean plants were allowed to grow under different types of light conditions (natural, red, blue, green, or far-red light) and in darkness. Irradiation with each type of light from the 20th or 30th day, except for green light from the 30th day, resulted in lower dry weight of peanut seeds. The peanut seeds irradiated with natural, blue or far-red light from the 30th day onward contained a smaller amount of lipids, lower levels of triacylglycerides (TG), and higher levels of total sugar and diacylglycerides (DG), than the seeds grown in darkness. In the case of soybean seeds grown in darkness, the lipid content increased, but the total sugar and protein contents decreased. Exposure of soybean seeds to far-red light did not result in an increase in the lipid content. In vitro, ¹⁴C-glycerol-3-phosphate was converted to DG rather than to TG under irradiation with light compared with dark conditions. In contrast, the effect of light on the incorporation of ¹⁴C-oleoyl-CoA into TG was not appreciable. These findings suggest that the accumulation of lipid in the seeds of leguminous plants is depressed by light, with far-red light affecting most the accumulation of lipids, which may regulate the synthesis of TG via DG from glycerol-3-phosphate.     

The Impact of Oat Quality on White Salted Noodles Containing Oat Flour

This research compared the physicochemical properties of six milling oat cultivars from Western Australia over two growing seasons (2011 and 2012). Variations among the cultivars in physicochemical properties, particularly β‐glucan content, were assessed to determine their suitability for incorporation into white salted noodles at a level of 30% of the flour component. The average across six oat cultivars grown in 2012 was significantly higher (P < 0.05) for protein content, lipid content, and volume of smaller sized particles (<100 µm) and significantly lower for ash content, starch damage, and volume of larger particles (>100 µm) in comparison with the average across the same oat cultivars grown in 2011. The year of cultivation by cultivar interaction was significant (P < 0.05) for ash content, protein content, β‐glucan content, starch damage, and particle size. Oat cultivar Mitika had the highest peak viscosity for 100% oat flour (whole groat) and 30% oat–wheat (OW) flour blend, which may be owing to lower amylose percentage, high protein content, and greater volume of smaller particles. The effect of growing season had greater impact on OW noodle firmness than the genetic effect of cultivars. The eating and cooking quality attributes of OW noodles, such as color, color stability, firmness, and cooking solid loss were superior for those incorporated with 2012 oat flour (whole groat) compared with 2011 oat flour. Among the six oat cultivars, Williams produced noodles with poor cooking and eating quality, and Mitika was easier to handle during processing and produced noodles with superior brightness and color stability in comparison with other oat cultivars evaluated.     

Hybrid Variability and Effect of Growth Location on Corn Fiber Yields and Corn Fiber Oil Composition

The variability in commercial corn hybrids for corn fiber yields, amounts of extractable oil, and levels of individual and total phytosterol components in corn fiber oil was determined. Also, the effect of growth location on fiber yields, fiber oil content, and the levels of individual and total phytosterol compounds was determined. Significant variation was observed in the commercial hybrids for fiber yield (13.2–16.6%) and fiber oil yield (0.9–2.4%). No significant correlation was observed between fiber and oil yields. Significant variations in the commercial corn hybrids were also observed in the individual phytosterol compounds in corn fiber oil: 2.9–9.2% for ferulate phytosterol esters (FPE); 1.9–4.3% for free phytosterols (St); and 6.5–9.5% for phytosterol fatty acyl esters (St:E). Positive correlations were observed among the three phytosterol compounds in the corn fiber oil (R = 0.75 for FPE and St:E; 0.48 for St:E and St; and 0.68 for FPE and St). The effect of location on dependent variables was also significant. The same hybrids grown at different locations showed a variation (range) of 4.0–17.5% for FPE, 4.9–12.2% for St:E, and 1.95–4.45% for St. Relative ranking of hybrids with respect to phytosterol composition was consistent for almost all of the growth locations.     

Effect of Exogenous Lipase on Dough Lipids During Mixing of Wheat Flours

In control dough, endogenous wheat lipase was inactive, because the triacylglycerol (TAG), 1,2-diacylglycerol (DAG_1,2), and 1,3-diacylglycerol (DAG_1,3) fractions of nonpolar lipids were not affected by mixing. Conversely, the free fatty acid (FFA) and monoacylglycerol (MAG) fractions decreased, mainly due to the oxidation of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) catalyzed by wheat lipoxygenase. Addition of exogenous lipase to flour (15 lipase units [LU] per gram of dry matter) resulted in substantial modification of nonpolar lipids during dough mixing. Due to the 1,3 specificity of the lipase used in this experiment, the TAG and DAG_1,3 fractions decreased, whereas the MAG and FFA fractions increased. The DAG_1,2 fraction increased at the beginning of mixing and decreased after 40 min of mixing. Moreover, part of the PUFA released by lipase activity was oxidized by wheat lipoxygenase, resulting in major losses of PUFA. Conversely, the net content of the saturated and monounsaturated fatty acids (SMUFA) remained constant, because the free SMUFA content increased primarily at the expense of the esterified forms. For a constant mixing time of 20 min, increasing the amount of lipase added to dough (from 2.5 to 25 LU/g of dry matter) resulted in a linear decrease in the TAG fraction and a linear increase in the SMUFA content in the FFA fraction. At the same time, the PUFA content of the FFA fraction increased only for additions of lipase to flour of >5 LU/g of dry matter, due to partial oxidation by wheat lipoxygenase.     

The Effect of Light on the Accumulation of Lipids in Rice Seeds

To investigate the effects of light on the accumulation of assimilate in rice seeds, ears were allowed to grow in darkness 10 d after their formation. The lipid content of rice bran on the 40th day increased by cultivation of ears in darkness whereas the dry weight and starch and sucrose contents of the rice seeds decreased. In the light, the triacylglyceride (TG) content of rice seeds was lowest on the 20th day but then increased continuously for the next 20 d, while the diacylglyceride (DG) content reached a maximum value on the 20th day. In darkness, in contrast, rice seeds showed a higher TG content, with a lower DG content and lower levels of other lipids on the 20th day compared with seeds exposed to light. These results suggest that the biosynthesis of starch and lipids in rice seeds is regulated by light.     

Effect of Shortenings Containing Stearic Acid on Blood Lipids and Fat Digestibilities in Hamsters

Tristearin (TS), a stearic acid-rich hard fat, and soybean oil (SO) were blended in different ratios to produce four functional shortenings (blends) for use in foods. Groups of hamsters were then fed diets containing TS, SO, and the four blends for four weeks. After four weeks, serum total cholesterol (CH) levels were measured: the group fed SO had 219 ± 19 mg/dL, and the groups fed four blends had a range of 214 ± 14 to 222 ± 15 mg/dL. Thus, TS in the blends exerted no hypercholesterolemic effect; it even lowered serum triglycerides (SO vs. blends). Liver CH levels were significantly lower only in the group fed the blend containing the highest level (60%) of TS. While SO was nearly completely digested (97.7%), digestibility of TS in the blends was low with a range of 10.2–26.3%, which was inversely related to the level of TS in the blend. Thus, functional shortenings produced by blending TS with edible oils may not only not raise blood CH levels, but they would be free of trans fatty acids and may be classified as reduced-calorie fats.     

气候变化对我国棉花生产的影响

棉花为喜高温、干旱、无限生长型植物,其产量品质形成对光照、辐射、积温等环境变化较其他作物更为敏感。全球温室化导致的积温增加、CO2浓度上升、辐射量下降、水分分布不均匀及极端天气爆发日趋频繁将对棉花生产产生显著影响。棉花生长期（4-11月）长达7个月,其产量品质形成关键期（7—9月）极易遭受多种极端天气气象条件。因此,尽管温室化效应产生的气温升高、CO2浓度增加将对棉花增产提质带来积极影响,并一定程度扩大我国可种植面积,但温室化效应导致的光辐射量的下降、尤其是短期极端高温/低温、短期极端干旱／暴雨等极端天气发生的日趋频繁将严重威胁我国的棉花安全生产。因此,进行前瞻性的气候变化对中国棉花生产影响的评估、棉花适宜种植区的重新区划、环境稳定型棉花品种选育、应对极端气候条件下的棉化抗逆栽培技术体系的构建对保证全球温室化背景下我国棉花产业的稳定和发展具有极其重要的意义。     

REVIEW: Oat and Rye β‐Glucan: Properties and Function

Over the years, the β‐glucan of oats and barley has been the subject of study either because of the importance of the cholesterol‐lowering potential to health claims (FDA 1997, 2005) or, in the case of barley, because of the role of β‐glucan and β‐glucan‐rich endosperm cell walls in malting and brewing. β‐Glucan is also present in rye and in much lesser amounts in wheat. The most striking difference in these latter two sources is the difficulty in extractability; alkali rather than water is required for significant release from the cell walls. This review will discuss physicochemical properties of oat and rye β‐glucan and, where information allows, relate these to physiological effects. Viscosity, or more generally rheology, plays a central role in discussions of cereal β‐glucan functionality and physiological effects and will be the focus of this review.     

高寒区栽培措施对燕麦人工草地系统碳氮储量及分配机制的影响

为系统评价不同栽培措施下燕麦人工草地系统固碳、固氮潜力,在青藏高原高寒地区采用燕麦品种、施肥水平和箭筈豌豆混播水平的三因素四水平正交试验设计[L₁₆(4⁵)],开展不同措施对乳熟期燕麦人工草地土壤层次碳氮储量的影响研究,并讨论不同措施下的燕麦人工草地系统碳、氮储量分配机制。结果表明,品种、施肥和混播均显著影响了土壤C、N储量分配,施肥和混播对C、N储量分配影响较大。尿素+磷酸二铵+有机肥处理下,系统总C、N储量最大,分别达184.45 t·hm^-2和12.51 kg·hm^-2;箭筈豌豆混播75 kg·hm^-2处理下,系统总C、N储量最大,分别达182.76 t·hm^-2和11.90 kg·hm^-2。燕麦乳熟期各土层C、N储量分配模式均依次表现为0~10 cm>10~20 cm>20~30 cm>30~40 cm>40~50 cm;其中,各土层C储量分配为27.35%、24.50%、21.39%、14.38%和11.08%,土壤N储量分配为28.62%、24.43%、17.95%、15.47%和12.49%。0~50 cm土层C、N储量分别占整个系统的98.69%和98.96%,而植物仅占1.31%和1.04%;植物茎、叶、穗和根生物C储量仅占系统的0.58%、0.30%、0.28%和0.15%,N储量仅占系统的0.28%、0.42%、0.29%和0.06%。本研究结果为高寒地区燕麦人工草地系统固碳、固氮方面的研究提供了理论基础。     

Effect of Various Acids and Sulfites in Steep Solution on Yields and Composition of Corn Fiber and Corn Fiber Oil

The addition of six acids (organic and inorganic) and four sulfite compounds (including gaseous SO₂) during the conventional corn wet‐milling steeping process of two yellow dent corn hybrids were evaluated for the effect on corn fiber yield, corn fiber oil yield, and the composition of three phytosterol compounds (ferulate phytosterol esters [FPE], free phytosterols [St], and phytosterol fatty acyl esters [St:E]) in the corn fiber oil. No significant effect of different sulfite compounds and acids were observed on corn fiber yields. However, a significant effect was observed on corn fiber oil yield and the composition of corn fiber oil for phytosterol compounds. Three of the sulfite compounds (including gaseous SO₂) caused very little effect on the levels of phytosterol compounds compared with the control sample (corn steeped with sodium metabisulfite and lactic acid). However, for one hybrid, ammonium sulfite gave a significantly higher yield of FPE and St:E and had no effect on the yield of St. For the other hybrid, it gave a significantly higher yield of FPE and had no effect on the yield of St and St:E compared with the control sample. This indicates that the effect of these sulfite compounds on yields of these phytosterol compounds in corn fiber oil is probably hybrid‐dependent. No significant effect of acids was observed on corn fiber yields, but significant effects were observed on corn fiber oil yields and yields of phytosterol compounds in the corn fiber oil. The effect also seems to be hybrid‐dependent because different acids affected the two hybrids differently. Overall, it seems that weak acids have a positive effect on increasing the individual phytosterol compounds in the corn fiber. When comparing the effect of experimental acids and sulfites on the two hybrids, acids have a more positive effect than sulfites in increasing the yield of phytosterol compounds in corn fiber oil.     

Effects of Natural Chelating Agents on the Solubility of Some Physiologically Important Mineral Elements in Oat Bran and Oat Flakes

The solubility of mineral elements from oat bran and flake samples was studied by a method using equilibrium dialysis after enzymatic digestion of starch and proteins. The effects of six potential chelating agents common in food were tested on the solubility of mineral elements. The minerals studied were calcium, magnesium, iron, manganese, zinc and potassium, and the chelating agents were citric, lactic, malic, and ascorbic acids, glucose and xylitol. The mineral elements were tightly bound to the dietary fiber of the samples. Bran fiber bound even the zinc and calcium contributed through the enzymes used. Adding citric, malic, or lactic acids increased the solubility of the mineral elements studied, except for potassium which was easily dialyzable as such. Iron was insoluble in all situations. Citric acid was the most efficient chelating agent in solubilizing the mineral elements. The effect of malic and lactic acids on the solubility of minerals was small. No effect was found with glucose, ascorbic acid, and xylitol. Thus, the intestinal availability of mineral elements may be affected by dietary hydroxy acids such as citric and malic acids in high dietary fiber diets.     

Effect of Extrusion on Hypocholesterolemic Properties of Rice,Oat, Corn,and Wheat Bran Diets in Hamsters

Brans from rice, oats, corn, and wheat were cooked in a twin-screw extruder at either high or low energy input, and their cholesterol-lowering effects were compared with those of unprocessed brans when fed to four-week-old male golden Syrian hamsters (n = 10 per treatment) for three weeks. Peanut oil was added to oat, corn, and wheat bran during the extrusion process to match the oil content of rice bran. Diets contained 10% total dietary fiber, 10.3% fat, 3% nitrogen, and 0.3% cholesterol. Plasma and liver cholesterol and total liver lipids were significantly lower with low-energy extruded wheat bran compared with unprocessed wheat bran. Extrusion did not alter the hypocholesterolemic effects of rice, oat, or corn brans. Plasma and liver cholesterol levels with corn bran were similar to those with oat bran. Relative cholesterol-lowering effects of the brans, determined with pooled (extruded and unextruded) bran data, were rice bran > oat bran > corn bran > wheat bran. Rice bran diets resulted in significantly lower levels of total plasma cholesterol and very low density lipoprotein cholesterol compared with all other brans. Total liver cholesterol and liver cholesterol concentrations (mg/g) were significantly lower with high-energy extruded rice bran compared with the cellulose control group. Plasma cholesterol and total liver cholesterol values with low-energy extruded wheat bran were similar to those with rice bran (unextruded or extruded) diets. Lowered cholesterol with rice bran diets may result in part from greater lipid and sterol excretion with these diets. Results with low-energy extruded wheat bran suggest that this type of processing may improve the potential for lowering cholesterol with wheat bran products.