Impact of carrageenan/starch interactions on neutral dairy dessert creams microstructure by means of multiple staining and CLSM

International audienc

Starch gelatinization in carrageenan solutions: exclusions, adsorption or obsorption of carrageenan chains by starch granules

International audienc

Neurobehavioral alterations induced by third-trimester gestation-equivalent ethanol exposure are inhibited by folate administration

Prenatal ethanol exposure (PEE) causes several neurobehavioral impairments in the fetus. Postnatal days (PDs) 4-9 in rodents are considered equivalent to the third trimester of gestation in humans. This period is characterized by high rates of synaptogenesis and myelination and the maturation of key structures and transmitter systems. Nutritional supplements, such as folate, have gained attention as putative treatments to mitigate detrimental effects of PEE. Folate is crucial for DNA synthesis and amino acid metabolism and heightens antioxidant defenses. The present study examined neurobehavioral effects of the concurrent administration of folate (20 mg/kg/day) and ethanol (5 g/kg/day) during PDs 4-9 in male and female Wistar rats. During PDs 16-18, the rat pups were tested for anxiety-like and exploratory activity in the light-dark box (LDB), open field (OF), and concentric square field (CSF) tests. After weaning, they were tested for sucrose preference and ethanol intake. Neonatal ethanol exposure reduced body weight in infancy but did not enhance ethanol self-administration or significantly affect performance in the OF or LDB. Neonatal ethanol exposure also reduced sucrose intake in the preference test and increased shelter-seeking in the CSF, and folate significantly inhibited these effects. The present findings suggest that folate, a treatment that is devoid of serious side effects, can ameliorate some neurobehavioral effects of PEE

Influence of thermo-mechanical treatment and skim milk components on the swelling behavior and rheological properties of starch suspensions

This study focused on the thermal behavior of starch with and without milk proteins. The effects of two thermo-mechanical treatments: at laboratory and pilot scales were studied. Three media were used for starch pasting: NaCl aqueous solution, milk permeate and skim milk. Starch granules significantly swelled more when pasted in the pilot plant or during a longer time of thermo-mechanical treatment at laboratory scale. Moreover, whereas at laboratory scale the presence of lactose or milk proteins did not modify the swelling behavior of starch, a larger increase was obtained in presence of lactose (milk permeate) and milk proteins (skim milk) at pilot scale. At least, different dependence on starch granules diameter ratio versus relative viscosities were obtained at laboratory and pilot scales. Two complementary hypotheses on milk proteins/starch interactions were proposed to explain these results. Indeed, milk proteins could impact starch swelling through an increase of starch granules frictions during thermomechanical treatment but also through a modification of their surface characteristics