Riddet Review December 2011 Issue 07 Riddet Institute Private Bag 11 222 Palmerston North New Zealand www.riddet.ac.nz Amino acid study reaches ne new frontiers Page 3 How to feel full Page 6 Flavour work Fla aided by the ‘Aro-mouth’ ‘A Page 7 Our O ur involvement in in EU science Page 9 From rice to almonds – processed food proc vvs raw food Page 10 Editorial The scope of the Riddet Institute’s activities has been broad over the past six months. Both within New Zealand and internationally, the Institute is heavily involved in activities that will improve our understanding of food and digestion and in promoting the vital role that science plays in making our lives healthier. In addition to the CoRE (Centre of Research Excellence) programme, we have now embarked on a multi-million dollar Primary Growth Partnership (PGP) programme for Fonterra, with the appointment of two further Chairs expected next year. The subcontracting to partners of the various statements of work has been complex and more time consuming than anticipated. However, this process has led to better mutual understanding. The International Dietary Protein Symposium held in conjunction with FAO in Auckland earlier in the year has produced a commitment to overseeing the publication of the proceedings in the British Journal of Nutrition early next year. The FAO Expert Consultation Report is still under preparation and should also be released next year. Co-director Professor Paul Moughan, who was the Chair of the Expert Consultation, has played a leading role in co-ordinating this report, which will have implications for the way traded protein is described around the world. Our technology innovation arm has focused on marketing two pieces of Intellectual property: ProBioLife™, which is shelf-stable probiotic technology; and the POSIFoods technology, which allows pointof-sale customised beverage vending. Both technologies have been exhibited around the world and the ProBioLife™ technology was accepted at the IFT showcase in Chicago in June this year. In March next year, the Institute is holding an international conference, “Food Structures, Digestion & Health,” to showcase our areas of focus. We are privileged to have some of the finest scientists in the area of food structures as keynote speakers at this event in Palmerston North. Ongoing are our international partnerships. Foremost among these is the joint PROTEOS project with Wageningen University in the Netherlands. The aim of PROTEOS is to develop ways of alleviating the projected world shortfall in available animal protein for human consumption. More of our activities are covered in this newsletter, which we hope you will enjoy reading. As we move towards the close of another year, we wish everyone a relaxing holiday season. Paula McCool Communications Officer ProBioLife™ attracts interest in Auckland The Riddet Institute took part in the Food Innovation Showcase held in Auckland during the Rugby World Cup. Product Development Manager Dr Shantanu Das led the three day promotion of the Institute’s ProBioLife™ technology, which allows probiotic strains to be incorporated into a range of shelf-stable foods. Delivery of probiotics is currently restricted to the chilled supply chain because probiotic bacteria do not survive at ambient temperatures for long periods. ProBioLife™ patented technology enables the probiotic bacteria to be stable at ambient temperatures for at least nine months. Dr Das took part in the public seminar programme at the showcase. 2 Riddet Institute students Tim Angeli and Davide Mercadante, both enrolled at the University of Auckland, assisted with setting up the stand and hosting visitors. Amino acid study tests the frontiers of protein knowledge There have been many studies on whey proteins, beta-lactoglobulin and alphalactalbumin, which are naturally present in milk and are renowned for their satiating effect compared with carbohydrate and other protein sources. But little has been done to find out which component of the dairy whey protein plays a role in this satiating effect, and indeed, whether these components on their own are more effective than the intact proteins. Sylvia Chungchunlam, a PhD scholar at the Riddet Institute, is isolating the amino acids in whey proteins to examine their effect on satiety (the suppression of hunger). She said, “When trying to lose weight by reducing food intake, people usually feel hungry after a meal and may eat more in subsequent meals. It is widely accepted that protein enhances satiety, which may help compliance on energy restricted diets. We have just assumed that intact whey proteins will do the job – now we want to know whether the amino acids alone are responsible and what this means for dietary composition.” The study will assess the effects of carbohydrate and protein on satiety after ingesting a “preload” drink, and will investigate which components of whey protein have an effect on food intake and satiety in normal healthy weight women by comparing the effects of carbohydrate, whey protein, whey protein components and crystalline amino acids. Interest in the study, due to commence in February next year, is high. German company, Evonik, has donated $6,000 dollars worth of purified crystalline amino acids, which are now in storage at the Riddet Institute headquarters in Palmerston North. Twenty volunteers (healthy women between 18 and 40) for the study have also been approved. The study will be completed at the end of 2012, and is the final step in Mrs Chungchunlam’s PhD research. Riddet Institute Board member elected as Chairman of Science New Zealand Dr Tom Richardson, CEO of AgResearch, and a member of the Riddet Institute Board, will chair Science New Zealand for a two-year term. He succeeds John Morgan, CEO of NIWA. Peter Landon-Lane, CEO of Plant & Food Research, also a Riddet Institute Board member, is deputy chairman-elect. Science New Zealand promotes the value of science and technology for New Zealand. Its Board comprises the CEOs of the eight Crown research institutes, which employ 4,200 staff or two-thirds of New Zealand’s publicly funded science researchers. Dr Tom Richardson Peter Landon-Lane 3 Spanish scientist keen observer of interaction with industry Dr Jose Francisco Perez, an Assistant Professor/Lecturer at the Veterinary Faculty, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona, Spain, came out to the Riddet Institute earlier this year to learn how animal models can inform human nutrition studies and thereby help the food industry. Dr Perez’s work concerns digestibility and metabolic efficiency in farm animals. “In Europe my work is divided between teaching at the Veterinary School and research, and the research focus is on animal feed efficiency, which translates into quality meat products for humans,” he said. “But in Europe farm production has very likely reached a near maximum – so it is not going to grow as it did last century, and therefore we are looking for new fields of research. One huge opportunity, of course, is how our expertise in animal digestive physiology can be extrapolated to provide insights into human nutrition. “The Riddet Institute has been extremely useful by showing me its approach to the food industry and how a research organisation and a food company can interact,” he said. During his time in Palmerston North Dr Perez has found the opportunity to coordinate a major European project bid (FP7 programme) that involves 14 organisations across Europe, and which also includes Massey University as a full partner. The bid is for €6 million and covers the development of innovative tools and a holistic value-chain approach within the European pork and poultry industry, which will lead to increased profitability, improved animal welfare and meat quality, and care for the environment. done, but the approach to life shows how free you are from the stress of the big European cities,” says Perez. When his year as a visiting scientist at the Riddet Institute is up at the end of February, Dr Perez, his wife and three young daughters will head back to Barcelona. But not before they have had a good look around the country that they say is so very different from Europe. “It is so relaxed here. You still get the job Riddet Institute Principal Investigator now FRSNZ Professor Gerald Tannock FRSNZ was made a Fellow of Royal Society of New Zealand at the beginning of November. Based at the University of Otago, he is a world-leading authority on gastrointestinal microbes and their role in health and disease, and pioneered the amalgamation of traditional methods with DNA-based technologies. 4 Recent Papers Below are five recent papers from Riddet Institute researchers. Copies of these papers can be obtained from Ansley Te Hiwi, a.tehiwi@massey.ac.nz. Loveday, S.M., Su, J., Rao, M.A., Anema, S.G., and Singh, H. (2011). Effect of calcium on the morphology and functionality of whey protein nanofibrils. Biomacromolecules, 12(10), 37803788. Ferrua, M.J., Kong, F., and Singh, R.P. (2011). Computational modelling of gastric digestion and the role of food material properties. Trends in Food Science and Technology, 22(9), 480-491. Co-director leads New Zealand delegation to Korea Co-director of the Riddet Institute Professor Harjinder Singh is the Focal Point Coordinator appointed by the Ministry of Science and Innovation to lead the Korea-NZ science relationship in the area of Innovative Foods. In early June he led the delegation to the New Zealand 2nd Focal Point Programme workshop on Innovative Foods, in Seoul, Korea. The delegation comprised Professor Margot Skinner (Plant & Food Research), Dr Don Otter (AgResearch), Dr David Everett (University of Otago) and Dr Kyoung-Sik Han (Riddet Institute). The visit focused on food innovation workshops, seminars and meetings which took place at Korea Food Research Institute (KFRI), Korea University, Kookmin University, Maeil Dairy Industry Ltd., and New Zealand Trade & Enterprise. Two joint research projects between Riddet Institute and KFRI are currently being carried out on bioactive compounds derived from native New Zealand Meas, P., Paterson, A.H.J., Cleland, D.J., Bronlund, J.E., Mawson, A.J., Hardacre, A., and Rickman, J.F. (2011). Effects of different solar drying methods on drying time and rice grain quality. International Journal of Food Engineering, 7(5), Art.No.11. and Korean plants. Balan, P., Han, K.S., Rutherfurd, S.M., Singh, H., and Moughan, P.J. (2011). Dietary supplementation with ovine serum immunoglobulin attenuates acute effects on growth, organ weights, gut morphology and intestinal mucin production in the growing rat challenged with Salmonella enteritidis. Animal, 5(10), 1570-78 . Coppell, K.J., Lee, J., Williams, S.M. and Mann, J.I. (2011). Progression of glycaemia and cardiovascular risk factors in patients of different age groups with new type 2 diabetes over 5 years of follow-up in a diabetes quality improvement initiative. Diabetes Research and Clinical Practice, 93(3), 357-362. From left: Dr Don Otter, Dr David Everett, Professor Harjinder Singh, Professor Margot Skinner and Dr Kyoung-Sik Han enjoy traditional Korean hospitality. 5 It’s what happens after eating that counts How is food broken down in our stomachs and converted to digesta, which are then emptied into our duodenum and passed through our small and large intestine? And why do we need to know? Researchers at the Riddet Institute believe an understanding of this process will enable the design of nutritionally enhanced foods tailored to our digestive processes. Not only will these foods help those of us suffering from digestive problems, but they will also offer targeted nutrient delivery; make micronutrients accessible; reduce allergenicity or food intolerance; and control satiation and energy intake – in all of us. Generally, we are able to extract every last little drop of value from what we eat. Both the mastication and digestive processes in the stomach and small intestine turn food into a molecular broth that can readily be absorbed into our bodies. But it is difficult to fool the body into making different digestive responses to conventionally produced and manufactured foods. Designing foods for tailored digestion presents many puzzles as food systems are complex and so are the biomechanics of the gastrointestinal tract. There is already a lot of research around the world on food structure and digestive physiology and other researchers have constructed static and dynamic artificial digestive models that replicate human gastrointestinal biochemistry and biomechanics. These models offer relatively straightforward characterisation and comparison of food materials but human trials are needed to validate the findings. A technique developed by the Riddet Institute is providing further valuable understanding of the dynamics of food digestion that goes much further than artificial models. Riddet Institute Associate Investigator Professor Roger Lentle and his team within the Institute of Food, Nutrition and Human Health at Massey University are introducing 6 biomaterials into living organ tissue taken from animals – stomachs, small intestines and colons, and are using high definition video capture to investigate the dynamic changes in digesta flows that result from gastrointestinal motion. The team is trying to produce a specific rate of digesta flow that will control satiety. They have already examined this in the flow behaviour of guar gum solution, and are now extending it to simple starch-based artificial solid foods, and will ultimately study more complex food systems. We hope they will be able to identify how the body responds to any pre-determined material and how that material is altered by gastrointestinal biomechanical and biochemical processing. The microscopic techniques they are using to understand how nutrients are transported into the bloodstream after digestion may also prove useful. For example, it may be possible to construct food components that are impervious to transit (for example, because of their size) and so could be used to regulate calorie intake by preventing entry of fatty acids into the bloodstream. Professor Lentle’s studies are novel and have the potential to accelerate the progress towards getting the ‘new and better’ foods the world is waiting for. Exploring differences in flavour perception Why do people perceive flavour differently when eating the same food? Is the tongue responsible for an individual volatile release pattern during the oral process? Ofir Benjamin, a Riddet scholar and PhD candidate at the food science department at the University of Otago, is looking for answers using the ‘Aro-Mouth’. Volatile organic compounds (VOCs), which are released during oral processing of food, play a crucial part in the perception of food flavour. During food consumption, the tongue acts as a co-ordinating muscle that positions the bolus for mastication and lubricates it with saliva. Previous studies have found that the tongue is capable of generating both positive and negative pressures against the hard palate. The bolus is then pushed and pulled toward the pharynx. Variations in pressure were found between different parts of the tongue, depending on the bolus properties, and tongue movements showed personal consistent patterns that varied significantly between individuals. Ofir Benjamin Many studies have examined the oral process quite thoroughly; but the relationship compressible, but also inert with the between in-mouth VOC release and tongue VOCs. This was not a straightforward pressure has not been covered in the same task, and required intensive research to depth. Mr Benjamin and others from the come up with the proper material with food science department, dental school and minimum absorption rates of VOCs. elsewhere have developed a novel model mouth called “Aro-Mouth”, which mimics Another trial explored the maximum the mouth swallowing process using an force range generated by 38 young males artificial rubber tongue that presses the food and females pressing their tongues sample in up-down movements controlled against the load cell sensor. The force by computer. The model includes mouth range will help determine an upper safety conditions such as temperature, saliva limit to avoid damaging the model. insertion flow and exhaled air flow. During the model operation the tongue pressure, The force and position are measured, as is the properties such as viscosity, volume and Aro-Mouth shows that food temperature of the sample. At the same time, composition may alter the release as well the volatile compounds are detected using an as the mouth conditions, and it is possible on-line recording instrument called PTR-MS that control of flavour release could be and the data is transferred to a screen using used in the fight against obesity and the modelling software. consumption of food with low nutritional The model’s unique feature is its ability to follow previously value. recorded actual human tongue pressures in order to create a more realistic profile of Mr Benjamin is supervised by Riddet volatile release. Institute Associate Investigator Dr David Everett and Pat Silcock at the food science In evaluation trials of the model, Mr department, and Jules Keiser, Dental Benjamin tried to find a suitable material School, at the University of Otago. for the tongue, so it was not only elastic and Aro-mouth 77 Riddet Institute researchers receive NZAS medals Professor Harjinder Singh, 2011 Shorland Medal Professor Geoffrey Jameson, 2011 Marsden Medal Riddet Institute co-director Professor Harjinder Singh and Principal Investigator Professor Geoff Jameson were presented with New Zealand Association of Scientists’ medals in early November. Professor Singh received the Shorland Medal, which is awarded in recognition of major and continued contribution to applied research, while Professor Jameson received the Marsden Medal, which is awarded for a lifetime of outstanding service to science. Professor Singh holds a Fonterra Chair in Dairy Science at Massey University and is considered a world authority on milk proteins and their relationship to dairy technology and processing. He has been a major figure in the development of dairy science research at Massey University and his research has had a major international impact, both in the dairy industry and academic community. Professor Jameson is Director of the Centre for Structural Biology at Massey University, and is one of the leading crystallographers in the world. Under his leadership, the Centre has thrived with new x-ray equipment and high-field NMR spectrometers being added to the suite of techniques available in-house. Riddet Institute scholar graduates PhD Prabhu Balan graduated at the end of November with a PhD from Massey University. He was supervised by Professor Paul Moughan. His citation reads: Immunoglobulins (Igs), proteins synthesised by animals, are the first line of defence against invading pathogens. They can be extracted from animal blood and used prophylactically and therapeutically. Dr Balan, using physiological, immunological, molecular and microbiological techniques, has shown that feeding an ovine Ig fraction enhances growth performance, modulates various indices of immune function, increases the numbers of beneficial lactobacilli in the gut and also influences gut mucin content in the normal and Salmonella Enteritidis - challenged rat. He has also found that intact ovine Ig can be detected in the luminal contents of the digestive tract of growing rats given an ovine Ig fraction orally. The results contribute to knowledge of how ovine Igs can modulate and enhance key indicators of gut function, immunity and overall growth performance in mammals. 8 Dr Prabhu Balan Riddet Institute part of European Science activities The Riddet Institute is involved in the EU COST (Committee on Science and Technology) Infogest action, which aims at building an international network of institutions working on the digestion of dietary proteins and the physiological validity in the field of food digestion. The first meeting was held in March 2010, in Brussels currently comprises 144 scientists from 45 research attended by Dr Mike Boland, and at the second meeting institutions spread across 24 countries. Of these, 22 in France in October this year, the Institute was COST supported EU nationalities are represented, represented by Associate Professor Matt Golding. and two non-COST organisations are confirmed as participants: Canada (Laval and Guelph University) and The Action has been set up to run until April 2015 and New Zealand (the Riddet Institute). EU and non-EU membership of INFOGEST initiative, as of 19th October 2011 The objectives of the INFOGEST COST action are as human health and well being. The Riddet Institute follows: considered participation in the INFOGEST action to be • • Spread and improve current basic knowledge on advantageous, recognising the particular importance of food digestion rationalising and consolidating digestive models as a Identify beneficial components released in the gut during digestion • Support the effect of beneficial food components on human health • Promote harmonisation key requirement in developing improved physiological validity to the field of food digestion. It also recognised the benefits of access to potential collaborative partners in the EU (and with non-EU participants), with specific expertise not necessarily available within New Zealand. of currently used digestion models. Finally, it also recognised the INFOGEST initiative is an excellent opportunity to showcase New Zealand capability and expertise in the field of food digestion, The objectives are in alignment with the scientific and can provide a mechanism by which international mission of the Riddet Institute, with its particular researchers can undertake secondments or fellowships focus on the relationship between food, digestion and within the Riddet Institute. 9 Almonds are now the focus of attention The University of California, Davis and the Riddet Institute are engaged in a joint project analysing how food processing affects digestion rates. The foods under study are brown and white rice; and raw and roasted almonds. Food is broken down in the stomach through Almonds are a big crop in Ms Bornhorst’ss home state mechanical and enzymatic processes, and the rate of California and the almonds for the study were that it has been broken down determines how quickly ornia, which donated by the Almond Board in California, the broken-down material leaves the stomach and he study will also paid for shipping to New Zealand. The moves into the intestine for further breakdown and be completed at the end of this year. absorption. The process is called gastric emptying and is strongly related to the sensation of satiety. orking with Ms Bornhorst said, “I have been working Professor Paul Singh, who is a Principal Investigator Riddet Institute researchers are trying to quantify the ew Zealand at the Riddet Institute. Coming to New effects of processing on food breakdown and whether ith a crossgave me a great opportunity to work with that affects the mixing process in the stomach, using functional team. As a food engineer in the United in vivo models. Knowledge of the effect of processing States, it is not as easy to team up with nutritional on digesta properties can inform the future design of scientists and biochemists.” foods to optimise their digestive properties. aper on the Ms Bornhorst will be presenting a paper UC Davis doctoral scholar Gail Bornhorst, Riddet gestion and rice study at the Food Structures, Digestion Institute PhD scholar Natascha Stroebinger and Heatlh conference hosted by the Riddet Institute in Senior Research Officer Dr Shane Rutherfurd, have Palmerston North in March next year. completed the rice study. Their objective was to determine the effect of rice processing on the physical (rheological properties and moisture content) and How the stomach works chemical (starch, fibre, protein, pH) properties of gastric digesta over an eight-hour time period in different regions of the stomach. Esophagus Funduss Results showed the rheological properties of brown Cardia and white rice over an eight-hour postprandial period were shown to be affected by both rice type and digestion time, indicating that the type of rice Body consumed affects the food breakdown. The pH and moisture content of gastric chyme showed differences depending on whether the digesta was taken from Pylorus the proximal or distal stomach. This supports the hypothesis that the stomach contents are not evenly Antrum mixed and that the proximal and distal regions of the stomach play unique roles in the digestion process. Duodenum In the second study, Ms Bornhorst and UC, Davis Master’s scholar Maxine Roman are studying the digestion of almonds. Almonds are high in fat and protein and have completely different properties from rice, which is high in starch, and they therefore represent a food at the other end of the range in determine if roasting influences the rate of mixing in The proximal stomach, composed of the ch exerts fundus and upper part of the stomach he small constant even pressure down into the posed of intestine. The distal stomach, composed the lower body and antrum, exhibitss strong the stomach. waves of contraction that grind food. terms of physical and chemical properties. The aim of this study is to quantify the mixing that occurs during gastric digestion of almond particles and to 10 ood into The stomach crushes and liquefies food he small “chyme” and forces it down into the intestine, (gastric emptying). Approximately 650 million tons of rice are grown annually worldwide, and it is a staple food for a large percentage of the world’s population. MacDiarmid Institute, Riddet Institute and Biomolecular Interaction Centre engage in joint project Three of New Zealand’s most prestigious scientific institutes will work together to change the way in which soft materials and biopolymer engineering is done, using world-class physical sciences to build an understanding of how structures affect functions. The project will employ an interdisciplinary team to examine opportunities in soft biomaterials engineering. Project leader Associate Professor Bill Williams, who is an Associate Investigator at the Riddet Institute said, “Biomaterials have the propensity to exhibit hierarchical structures organised on multiple length-scales, which emerge from molecular and supra-molecular self-assembly. While in order to progress structurefunction understanding, information at a number of scales is required, the mechanical characterisation of mesoscale structureelements has been particularly challenging.” Two postdoctoral and two postgraduate researchers are being sought to be part of the project team: one postdoctoral fellow will be based in Christchurch at the University of Canterbury, and will be responsible for the development of an array of techniques and protocols for the controlled growth of functionalised protein fibrils; a second postdoctoral fellow will be based at Massey University in Palmerston North, and will use a suite of state-of-the-art biophysical tools, including holographic optical tweezers, to apply and measure forces on systems ranging from single molecules to assembled fibrils. A postgraduate researcher will also be based at Massey University in Palmerston North, and will work towards a PhD degree pursuing methodologies for the computational modeling of biopolymeric networks; being informed by the measured mesoscale parameters and predicting the bulk properties of assembled soft materials. The second postgraduate researcher will be based at Victoria University in Wellington and will work towards a PhD degree developing experimental tools appropriate for the measurement of the emergent bulk mechanical properties of assembled networks, providing tests of the predictions generated by the project. Associate Professor Bill Williams 11 Out Now – New Zealand agrifood innovation is the key to prosperity • • 43 chapters, 41 authors, 250 pages. Authors include leading scientists from universities, Crown Research Institutes, other research organisations and companies from around New Zealand. • Liberally illustrated with photographs and illustrations. New Ne ew Zealand’s agrifood exports made the country one of the wealthiest in th the world. This success rests on the achievements of those who spent th hei working lives solving problems and continuously innovating. their Floreat Scientia tells the story of those scientists and that success Flor and an nd examines where the current wave of innovators have turned their attention. att te The book makes clear that the economic opportunities for New Zealand around agrifood and related industries have never ne eve been greater. “New “N New knowledge is the key to an effective agricultural system. I enjoyed en njo this book – it is a real reminder of what we owe to science.” Professor Pr rof Sir Peter Gluckman, KNZM, Chief Science Advisor to the Prime Minister of New Zealand. Mi ini “Floreat “F Flo Scientia is an inspiring read, with fascinating stories about our ou ur largely unsung heroes in the agricultural and food sciences.” Jane Ja ane Hunter CNZM OBE, business leader, viticulturalist and managing director Hunter’s Wines. off H “Feeding “F Fee the world is the issue of the day. This is a great exposition of N New Zealand’s potential to advance solutions to this global need.” Published Publ blis ishe hed d by Random Rand Ra ndom om H House ouse ou se New New Zealand Zea eala land nd for f the th Riddet Ridd t Institute I tit t Order your Copy Now Rt H Hon Jim Bolger ONZ, former Prime Minister of New Zealand, Chairman, Advisory Board, World Agricultural Forum, and KIng Country farmer. Advi Please send me copies of Floreat Scientia (Hardback: ISBN 978 1 927158 081) At the special price of $40.00* (usual price $49.95) Postage and packing free within New Zealand only *Discount available until 16 Dec 2011 for individual purchasers only Name: Organisation: Address: Email: Payment Details Prices are shown in New Zealand Dollars and are GST inclusive I enclose a cheque for payable to Massey University Please debit my Visa/Mastercard Credit card number Expiry Cardholder name Signature Complete and return to: Riddet Institute, Massey University, Private Bag 11 222, Palmerston North 4442, New Zealand, P: +64 6 350 5184, F: +64 6 350 5655, www.riddet.ac.nz 12
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