Chemistry Reference
In-Depth Information
oligosaccharide (raffinose and stachyose) and pyrodextrin, produced by pyrolysis of
maize and potato starch, are also reported to be beneficial for human health.
8.6.3 glycomannans
Glycomannan, a glucose/mannose polymer derived from a plant called
Amorphophallus konjak
, has several English names, such as devil tongue, elephant
yam, and umbrella arum. It has unique hydroscopic abilities and will swell and form
a viscous gel on contact with water. Like other gels, this will delay gastric emptying
and intestinal transit time. It has been shown to be effective in delaying absorption of
digestible energy. It has thus far been used mainly in Japan and other Asian countries
to treat diabetes, hypertension, and hypercholesterolemia. Dietary supply of konjak
mannans has been shown to alter the flora and reduce tumorigenesis in experimental
animals. It is also effective in controlling diarrhea in enteral nutrition, especially in
elderly patients, and to increase the
Bifidobacterium
lora.
8.6.4 oat gum
Oat contains a series of interesting compounds, which is the reason an increasing
part the world production of oat goes to the pharmaceutical and cosmetic industries.
The amino acid pattern of oat is similar to that of human muscle (only that of buck-
wheat is more alike), and thus can be expected to deliver most of the amino acids
needed to build muscles. Oat is rich in water-soluble fibers, β-glucans, known for
their antiseptic properties. Oat is also rich in natural antioxidants, particularly fer-
ulic acid, caffeic acid, hydrocinnamic acid, and tocopherols, and, before synthetic
antioxidants, oat was available extensively and used to preserve foods: milk, milk
powder, butter, ice cream, fish, bacon, sausages, and other food products sensitive
to fat oxidation. Another ingredient richly available in oat is inositol hexaphosphate
(phytic acid), a strong antioxidant, particularly known to enhance natural killer (NK)
cell activity and to suppress tumor growth. Oat is also rich in polyunsaturated fats/
polar lipids, such as phosphatidylcholine, known for its protective effects of mucosal
and cellular surfaces.
8.6.5 Pectin
Pectin is also an interesting fiber, extensively used by the pharmaceutical and
food industries. It has a unique ability to form gels and is commonly used as a carrier
of pharmacologically active substances; it is common in baby foods. An important
finding is that pectin is a very strong antioxidant against the three most dominating
oxidation damages induced by peroxyl, superoxide, and hydroxyl radicals. These
effects might explain why pectin has the capacity to stimulate the gut-associated
immune system and to prevent disruption of the intestinal microflora. In experi-
mental studies, pectins have shown strong protective and healing effects on gas-
tric and on intestinal mucosa, not inferior to that observed with H
2
-blockers, proton
inhibitors, and surface-protection agents.
31,32
Pectin builds a protection layer in the
