Effect of Beta-Glucan and Resistant Starch on Prebiotic Dough and Bread Properties.

White bread is a staple food in the human diet in many countries and a popular and convenient cereal product; it is also a poor source of dietary fiber,containing typically less than 2.5% fiber content. In fact, white wheat bread is commonly used as a high glycemic index reference in glycemic response. A demand therefore exists for the development of bread with substances that are non-digestible polysaccharides or partially resistant to the digestive process.

Functional foods either contain (or add) a component with a positive health effect or eliminate a component with a negative one, as they must be safe, healthy and tasty. Addition of healthy components such as prebiotics to food products is a common approach to development of these kinds of foods. According to the definition by, prebiotics are non-digestible food ingredients that beneficially affect the host by selectively stimulating the growth and/or activity of one or more bacteria (probiotics) in the gastrointestinal tract and thus improve host health.(Read more)

Probiotic Lactobacillus Species Strengthen Intestinal Barrier Function and Tight Junction Integrity in Experimental Necrotizing Enterocolitis.

Necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) is an inflammatory intestinal disorder that affects premature infants. Despite years of research, it remains the most common gastrointestinal emergency seen in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). NEC is associated with an average mortality of 15-30%, but may be as high as 75-85% in its most severe forms. Survivors may require surgical resection of necrotic bowel and incur associated morbidities, including short gut syndrome, growth delay, and neurodevelopment disorders. 

The pathophysiology of NEC is not well understood and as a result, care is mostly supportive with no defined preventative therapy available. There currently are no recommended strategies that consistently prevent NEC. The possibility of administering probiotic species to protect at-risk infants from developing NEC is a captivating concept that has received significant attention.(Read More)