<p> The main objective of this project was to develop juice products supplemented with prebiotics (Low Fermentable Oligo-Di-Monosaccharides and Polyols [FODMAPs]) and probiotics (Lactobacillus) aimed towards children with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). A review of literature discussed what prebiotics and probiotics are as well as their role in the body&rsquo;s health. A discussion of IBS was also included. </p><p> A fruit juice was created using a formula found on the USDA Nutrient Database from a similar product. <i>Lactobacillus acidophilus</i> was the proposed probiotic to be used in the product. A process flow diagram, Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) plan, nutrition label, and principal display panel (PDP) was developed for the proposed product. Shelf life estimation of the product was proposed through an accelerated shelf life equation. Two sensory evaluation tools were created that can evaluate the product: a ranking test and a 5-point hedonics scale test.</p>

<p>Colorectal cancer is the third leading cause of morbidity and second leading cause for mortality by cancer in the United States. Phytochemicals within fruits and vegetables have demonstrated chemopreventive potential by regulating certain defense mechanisms within the body. This study evaluated consumer acceptability of a sweet potato ginger crisp prototype. Thirty-two male and female subjects (mean age: 22.8 years) were recruited at California State University, Long Beach. Consumer acceptability was significantly (p < 0.05) higher for the commercial product compared to prototype on several sensory attributes. Frequency of consumption was significantly (p < 0.001) higher for the commercial product. The commercial product was preferred overall (91%). Antioxidant capacity measures indicated high radical scavenging (95%) and reducing power (26%) of the prototype. Further research to assess overall quality and marketing the synergistic benefits from the chemopreventive compounds in sweet potatoes and presence of natural sugars may improve its overall acceptability.

<p> Both epidemiological and clinical evidence support the notion that polyphenol rich foods and beverages may modify glycemic response, glucose homeostasis and subsequent risk of Type-2 diabetes. <i>In vitro</i> evidence typically derived from experiments with pure phenolics and phenolic rich extracts have pointed to this benefit being associated with two potential mechanisms: (1) the ability of specific polyphenolics to inhibit carbohydrate digestion (amylase and glucosidase) and (2) polyphenolic inhibition of intestinal glucose transport. While the high potential of these activities is evident, little is actually known regarding the extent to which these benefits are extendable to the actual food matrix these phenolics are naturally present in. Further, the extent to which co-consumption of polyphenol rich foods may actually result in decreased glycemic response from a mixed meal remains mostly unknown. Considering these limitations, additional insights are required in order to advance knowledge on the benefits of polyphenolics on glucomodulatory mechanisms and translation of these insights into meaningful recommendations and products for consumers. With this in mind, the objectives of these studies were to determine the extent to which phenolic-rich foods (grapes and potatoes) exert glucomodulatory properties in model food systems using <i>in vitro </i> and <i>in vivo</i> assessments. First, mechanisms associated with polyphenol rich extracts or model foods on carbohydrate intestinal digestion and glucose transport were investigated <i>in vitro</i> using a three-stage <i>in vitro</i> digestion model coupled to the Caco-2 human intestinal cell model. Components of this model used individually or in combination allowed for assessment of the two main mechanistic steps in phenolic modulation of glycemic response (starch digestion and glucose transport) in the context of interactions with bioaccessible phenolics. Additionally, the ability of the coupled <i>in vitro</i> digestion/Caco-2 model to predict <i>in vivo</i> outcomes was assessed.</p><p> The first study compared the ability of 100% Niagara or Concord grape juice (GJ) phenolics to modify carbohydrase activity and intestinal glucose transport relative to a sugar sweetened beverage. While grape juices remain a major dietary source of phenolics, they are also well recognized to be naturally high in sugar content. Insights into the ability of natural fruit phenolics to modify glycemic response of grape juice were investigated <i>in vitro. </i> Also, in consideration that 100% GJ is consumed with meals, the extent to which modulation of carbohydrate digestion and intestinal absorption by GJ phenolics can be extended to a carbohydrate rich meal was evaluated. In the first experiment, inhibition of &alpha;-amylase and &alpha;-glucosidase by GJ extracts (300 and 500 &mu;M total phenolics) and ability of GJ extracts (10 to 100 &mu;M total phenolics) to modulate labelled glucose and fructose transport across Caco-2 intestinal cell monolayers compared to a phenolic-free control were determined. GJ extracts decreased &alpha;-glucosidase, but not &alpha;-amylase activity at both concentrations tested. Further, glucose and fructose transport were significantly (p&lt;0.05) decreased in a dose-dependent manner by Niagara and Concord GJ extracts. In a second experiment, GJs and phenolic-free control beverages were co-digested <i>in vitro</i> with a starch-rich model meal. Resulting aqueous digesta (AQ) from both experiments were used to assess impact of bioaccessible GJ phenolics on carbohydrate digestion and glucose transport. Concord and Niagara GJs significantly decreased <i>in vitro </i> gastrointestinal digestion of carbohydrate from model meal compared with a sugar-matched control. Further, d7-glucose transport from AQ fraction of GJ and co-digested GJ and carbohydrate-rich meal across Caco-2 human intestinal cell monolayers was significantly decreased compared to phenolic-free sugar-sweetened control.</p><p> The second study evaluated potential for phenolics from starch rich white, purple, or red potatoes to modulate carbohydrate digestion or glucose transport in a Caco-2 intestinal cell model. Potato phenolic extracts (300 &mu;M) had no impact on &alpha;-amylase activity, and marginally decreased &alpha;-glucosidase activity. However, potato phenolic extracts (25-100&mu;M) did decrease d7-glucose transport compared to phenolic-free control. Interestingly, whole potato phenolic extracts reduced glucose transport to a greater extent compared to those from potato peel. To determine if results from aforementioned <i>in vitro </i> assays are predictive of effects <i>in vivo</i>, a pilot clinical study (n=11) was completed to assess differences in acute blood glucose response and gastric emptying following consumption of phenolic-rich purple and red potato chips compared to white potato chips (50g available carbohydrate) containing lower level of total phenolics. Blood glucose levels were measured for up to two hours. Peak blood glucose levels were lower for pigmented chips, especially purple chips, compared to white chips without any significant changes in gastric emptying. These results suggest that potato phenolics may play a role in modulation of intestinal glucose transport and that these effects are translatable to consumer products such as potato chips.</p><p> Taken together, these data support the notion that phenolics intrinsic to select foods have the ability to modify glycemic response through alteration of glucose transport and to a certain extent starch digestion. Therefore, it is likely that observed benefits associated with consumption of phenolic-rich foods and 100% fruit juices, as a part of an overall healthy diet, may be associated with the ability of intrinsic and bioaccessible phenolics to modify glycemic response. Future research that focuses on hypoglycemic effects of phenolic-rich foods should be larger scale and should evaluate a greater variety of phenolic-rich foods in order to better understand the extent to which phenolic class and food matrix impact hypoglycemic effects. Regarding meal-effects, a pilot clinical study should be completed to validate <i>in vitro</i> results and to provide information as to what degree various types of meal patterns alter glycemic effects of phenolic-rich foods. Such information can be leveraged in the development of phenolic-rich food products that have post-prandial glycemic effects and for making recommendations of dietary choices which may result in improved glucose homeostasis.</p>

<p> The consumption of added sugars has gained much attention due to its affiliation with increased incidence of type 2 diabetes and associated chronic illnesses. In this study, an ice-cream prototype was developed using whole dried figs and evaluated for overall consumer acceptability (34 subjects) based on flavor and texture, compared to a control using 9- point hedonics (1 = like extremely; 9 = dislike extremely). Overall acceptability of the prototype and consumer awareness of the FDA proposed new nutrition facts label were also evaluated. Significant (P &lt; 0.000) differences were observed between the prototype and control regarding flavor (4.79&plusmn;0.34; 2.35&plusmn;0.19), texture (4.35&plusmn;0.33; 1.94&plusmn;0.16), and overall acceptability (4.94&plusmn;0.35; 2.41&plusmn;0.23) respectively. Furthermore, 88.2% of participants preferred seeing nutrition-related psychographical information on the PDP. It can be concluded that consumers may purchase the prototype based on psychographical information related to health claims and their awareness of the FDA proposed food label.</p>

<p> The purpose of this project was to develop an experiment aimed at investigating the acceptability and willingness for consumers to adopt snacks formulated with cricket protein. As chips are commonly well-liked snacks, a commercialized chip product containing cricket protein would be used for the sensory evaluations. Three sensory evaluation tools were created to evaluate the perceptions of the participants: A 9-point hedonic scale test, paired-comparison test, and a Food Action Rating Scale test. A review of literature is included which demonstrates the history of entomophagy and the benefits associated with cricket protein consumption. Furthermore, the researcher provides current food trends of cricket protein. Overall, through extensive research, this project suggests that incorporating cricket protein into commonly well-liked snacks is uncommonly practiced; however, through increasing awareness of its benefits and with more food companies featuring cricket protein in products, perhaps in the near future eating bugs will be more common in Western society. </p><p>

<p> Obesity, cardiovascular disease, and vulnerability among older adults highlight a critical need for a careful consideration of effective and preventive dietary interventions. Consuming flaxseed, along with a well-balanced diet, has been shown to significantly improve weight, waist circumference, blood pressure, serum lipids, plasma glucose levels, and inflammatory biomarkers. Although flaxseed exhibits anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, little is known regarding its consumer acceptability among older adults. The objective of this study was to investigate the acceptability of a flaxseed bagel in individuals 50 years and older using a 9-point Hedonic rating scale, Paired Preference test, and Food Action (FACT) rating scale. There were no significant differences between the control bagel (0% flaxseed) and flaxseed bagel (23%) in sensory attributes (appearance, color, flavor, aroma, texture, and overall acceptability) and FACT ratings in 20 participants (69.0 &plusmn; 6.3 years old). Age was significantly associated with the overall acceptability of the flaxseed bagel (<i>p</i> = .004) while gender showed no association with overall acceptability and FACT ratings in both bagels. Appearance, color, flavor, and texture were strongly correlated (<i>p</i> &lt; .01) to overall acceptability in both bagels. Further exploration of consumer acceptance of flaxseed products among older adults is needed; clinical trials may also shed light on potential health impacts of regular flax consumption.</p><p>

<p> Mauby Bark is commonly used to make a beverage believed to possess medicinal properties in the Caribbean. However, limited studies have substantiated these compounds. Therefore, the objectives of this research were to determine the polyphenolic content and antioxidant capacity of Mauby bark extracts boiled at 30, 45, and 60 minutes. The Total Flavonoid Content (TFC) ranged from 1.93 &plusmn; 0.17 CE/mL to 3.17 &plusmn; 0.11 mg CE/mL and the Total Phenolic Content (TPC) ranged from 2.10 mg &plusmn; 0.11 GAE/mL to 2.36 mg &plusmn; 0.07 GAE/mL. The 2,2 Diphenyl 1-Picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) scavenging activity ranged from 75 &plusmn; 4.02% to 83 &plusmn; 0.66% and the Ferric Reducing Antioxidant Power (FRAP) values ranged from 6.29 &plusmn; 0.84 to 6.90 &plusmn; 1.54 mM FeSO₄ equivalents/0.2 mL. Although polyphenolic content at 30 minutes was greater than 60 minutes for TFC (<i>p</i> &lt; 0.001) and TPC (<i>p</i> = 0.002), the scavenging activity was greater at 60 minutes than 30 minutes (<i>p</i> = 0.014) while antioxidant power was not affected by time (<i>p</i> = 0.736). In summary, 60 minutes was observed to provide the greatest antioxidant benefits in Mauby bark extracts for consumers.</p><p>

<p> More than 500 million people are affected by obesity worldwide and in 2015 no state in the United States had a prevalence of obesity less than 20%. It is well-documented that obesity is linked with an increased risk of chronic diseases such as: metabolic syndrome, hypertension, insulin resistance, diabetes, arterial hypertension, and dyslipidemia. A weight management intervention that is affordable, convenient, appealing, and effective is needed in order to target this epidemic. In an effort to provide supplemental resources needed by weight management programs, the <i>Telehealth Nutrition Manual for An Online Intensive Behavioral Weight Management Program</i> was created. The purpose of this project was to create a nutrition manual for those seeking weight loss through online program interventions. The manual includes guidance on appropriate caloric intake, monitoring biochemical markers, strategies for behavior change, and a variety of dietary approaches within a flexible meal plan. Recommendations for future nutrition manuals are provided. </p>

The aim of this dissertation research was to develop innovative strategies to enhance biological functionality and improve consistency of phenolic phytochemical profiles in cranberry products and byproducts. Solid-state bioprocessing (SSB) of cranberry pomace with food grade fungi Rhizopus oligosporus and Lentinus edodes was used to mobilize phenolic antioxidants within a consistent phytochemical profile and improve biological functionality. The effect of SSB on antimicrobial activity was tested against three important food-borne pathogens Listeria monocytogenes , Vibrio parahaemolyticus and Escherichia coli O157:H7. Further, the antimicrobial activity of the extracts was also tested against gastric cancer and gastric ulcer-linked Helicobacter pylori. The results indicated that SSB mobilized functionally important phenolic phytochemicals such as ellagic acid and enhanced antioxidant activity. SSB also resulted in enhancing the antimicrobial activity of the extract. The results provided an insight into the mechanism of antimicrobial activity of phenolic phytochemicals. Cranberry synergies with functional biphenyls ellagic acid and rosmarinic acid were designed for enrichment of antioxidant, anti-H. pylori, antimutagen and DNA protection properties. Results indicated that cranberry synergies with biphenyls improved their antioxidant activity. The antimutagenic and DNA protective functions properties of cranberry synergies were found to be significantly higher than pure compounds. Cranberry synergies linked to enhanced antioxidant activity and phytochemical profile also improved the antimicrobial property of the extract against gastric ulcer-linked H. pylori. The anti-H. pylori activity of cranberry was further enhanced by synergistically blending cranberry extract with other fruit and herb extracts. The mechanism of action of these cranberry synergies with biphenyls on modulating the antioxidant enzyme response was investigated in germinating fava bean sprouts and oxidatively stressed porcine muscle tissue. From this investigation phenolic antioxidants from plants appear to mediate their biological functionality by modulating antioxidant systems in eukaryotes by more than one mechanism. These functions were carried out either as free radical scavenging antioxidants and more importantly by inducing antioxidant enzyme responses in the cellular systems. The results also indicated that pure biphenyls functioned more efficiently when they were in a cranberry background. The results provide an important insight into the possible mechanism of action of fruit phytochemicals in biological systems and also showed that they can be improved in synergy with specific biphenyls. (Abstract shortened by UMI.)

This study investigated the effects of zinc fortification (to 100% of the USRDA) and calcium fortificant type (calcium carbonate or calcium phosphate) in various cereal products on zinc, iron and calcium solubility following an in vitro digestion procedure simulating the human process. Due to the dramatic increases in the consumption of high fiber cereal grains and the potential for essential mineral deficiencies, these effects have become increasingly important. In vitro systems included skim, 1 and 2% fat and whole milk because cereal grains are often consumed with such dairy products. In systems containing either highly or moderately fortified whole wheat cereals, zinc solubility significantly increased in response to zinc fortificant level. The superior solubility of calcium carbonate was evident, with associated increases in zinc and iron solubility apparently due to a competitive ion effect. Mineral solubility was significantly enhanced in the presence of milk, with this effect related to % milkfat and the process of homogenization. It was hypothesized that the superior mineral solubilization potential of homogenized whole milk was a function of interfacial protein denaturization during processing. Therefore, experimental dairy processes with the potential to alter native protein morphology (sonication, increased pressure and sequential homogenizations plus added surfactant, and microfluidization) were evaluated. In various cereal systems following the simulated digestion procedure, only a 20 min skim milk sonication treatment significantly enhanced mineral solubility, while surfactant addition inhibited it. Gel exclusion chromatography and photon correlation spectroscopy were used to characterize the effects of the various experimental dairy processes on milk particle hydrodynamic diameter. While surfactant addition prior to whole milk homogenization slightly increased particle diameters, microfluidization decreased them. Isolation and characterization of a milk fraction exhibiting maximal mineral sequesterization potential involved centrifugation, electrophoresis and electron microscopy. Centrifugal separation of zinc fortified whole and skim milk indicated that zinc was associated with a sedimentable fraction. Electrophoretic analysis demonstrated that this fraction was largely composed of sedimented casein and serum albumin. As well, electron microscopic analysis of this fraction confirmed the presence of sedimented casein micelles devoid of lipid globules, an observation supported by quantitative lipid and protein analyses.