Orange is a tropical fruit used in the juice industry, yielding important quantities of by products. The objective of this work was to obtain a dietary fiber-rich orange bagasse product (DFROBP), evaluate its chemical composition and its use in the preparation of a bakery product (muffin). Muffins containing two different levels of DFROBP were studied regarding chemical composition, in vitro starch digestibility, predicted glyceamic index and acceptability in a sensory test. DFROBP showed low fat and high dietary fiber contents. The soluble and insoluble dietary fiber fractions were balanced, which is of importance for the health beneficial effects of fiber sources. DFROBP-containing muffins showed the same rapidly digestible starch content as the reference muffin, whilst the slowly digestible starch level increased with the addition of DFROBP. However, the resistant starch content decreased when DFROBP increased in the muffin. The addition of DFROBP to muffin decreased the predicted glyceamic index, but no difference was found between the muffins prepared with the two DFROBP levels. The sensory score did not show difference between control muffin and that added with 10% of DFROBP. The addition of DFROBP to bakery products can be an alternative for people requiring low glyceamic response.

Chickpea flour (CF) was prepared and used as an ingredient for elaboration of bread with different levels of wheat versus CFs (80 : 20 and 60: 40). Available starch (AS), resistant starch (RS), dietary fibre (DF), the in vitro starch hydrolysis indices (HIs), using a chewing/dialysis digestion protocol and the acceptability of the experimental bread were compared with those of a control bread prepared with wheat flour and baked in the laboratory. HIs were used to predict glyceamic indices (pGI). The bread analysed did not show differences in moisture, lipids and ash content, but CF-bread had higher protein, RS and DF amount than control bread. HI-based pGI for the CF-bread were 46.92 and 34.67%, which were significantly lower than control bread (65.31%), suggesting a `slow carbohydrate' feature for the CF-based goods. The slow digestion characteristics of chickpea are largely retained in the experimental bread. Data support the perceived health beneficial properties of legumes and CF might be used as a potential ingredient for bakery products with slowly digestible carbohydrates.

Tortilla and beans are the basic components in the diet of people in the urban and rural areas of Mexico. Quality protein maize is suggested for tortilla preparation because it presents an increase in lysine and tryptophan levels. Beans contain important amounts of dietary fiber. The objective of this study was to prepare tortilla with bean and assesses the chemical composition, starch digestibility and antioxidant capacity using a quality protein maize variety. Tortilla with bean had higher protein, ash, dietary fiber and resistant starch content, and lower digestible starch than control tortilla. The hydrolysis rate (60 to 50%) and the predicted glycemic index (88 to 80) of tortilla decreased with the addition of bean in the blend. Extractable polyphenols and proanthocyanidins were higher in the tortilla with bean than control tortilla. This pattern produced higher antioxidant capacity of tortilla with bean (17.6 μmol Trolox eq/g) than control tortilla (7.8 μmol Trolox eq/g). The addition of bean to tortilla modified the starch digestibility and antioxidant characteristics of tortilla, obtaining a product with nutraceutical characteristics.

Irritable bowel syndrome displays three different subtypes: constipation (IBS-C), diarrhea (IBS-D), and mixed (IBS-M). Treatment with dietary fiber is used, with consideration given both to the chemical composition of the fiber and to the different subtypes of IBS. The IBS-D subtype is usually treated with a low-FODMAPs diet, whereas the IBS-C subtype suggests prebiotics and probiotics to promote microbiota restoration. The aim of this study was to assess the effects of employing agave fructans as the soluble fiber of a jelly (Gelyfun^®gastro) containing 8 g per serving in the IBS-C group (n = 50), using a randomized, double-blind, time-limited trial for four weeks. We evaluated changes in the frequency and types of bowel movements through the Bristol scale, and the improvement of the condition was evaluated using quality of life (IBS-QOL) and anxiety–depression (HADS) scales. The main results were that the number of bowel movements increased by more than 80%, with at least one stool per day from fifteen days onwards, without a laxative effect for the group treated. Finally, the quality of life with the prebiotic jelly was significantly improved compared to the placebo in all specific domains, in addition to significantly reducing anxiety and depression.

Tortilla is the main staple food in Mexico. The principal fractions of tortillas are carbohydrates, where starch is the major constituent. Tortillas containing corn dough (600 g/kg) plus unripe banana flour (400 g/kg) (Musa paradisiaca L.) (UBF), and corn dough (500 g/kg) plus cassava flour (500 g/kg) (Mahinot esculenta Crantz) (CF) were analyzed for chemical composition and in vitro starch digestibility, and the glycemic index was also predicted. Protein and dietary fiber content decreased in tortillas added with UBF and CF. Fresh tortilla with UBF had the highest resistant starch (RS) content and with CF the lowest one. An increase in RS content with the storage time was determined in control tortilla and with CF, but tortilla with UBF did not. The predicted glycemic index decreased in stored tortillas. The change in digestible carbohydrates in tortilla with the addition of non-traditional ingredients can be an alternative for people with special nutrition requirements.