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9.4 Enzymatically improving infant nutrition in developing countries | |
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9.4 Enzymatically improving infant nutrition in developing countries | |
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1.0 OBJECTIVE
This monograph sets out some information on enzymatically improving infant nutrition in developing countries.
2.0 SUMMARY
Endogenous alpha-amylase generated by adding about 1% crushed germinating grains reduces the quantity of gruel to deliver a set amount of energy and protein over 3-fold, and releases sugar that sweetens and enhances the gruel taste.
Babies in developing countries, which are generally weaned directly to adult porridges diluted to form low energy density gruels, then avoid the risk of their stomachs being filled before sufficient nutrients are ingested.
Enzyme blends could alternatively be packaged to allow the similar enhancement of starchy gruels without having to manage germinations.
Such enzyme blends could furthermore extend the range of baby gruel feedstocks to other materials as may be seasonally available or desireable for provision of balanced nutrition.
Although there are records of selected alfa-amylases alone being applied to feedstocks containing a variety of materials such as tubers, grains and legumes, blends might prove more effective.
Thus multi-enzyme systems [carbohydrase and cellulase, plus arabinase, betagluconase, hemicellulase and xylanase] may be applied to fruit, grains and legumes.
Pectinase/cellulase combinations might be applied to tubers and fruits.
Beta-amylase which has no glucanase nor proteinase effect, preferably 1,4-alpha-D-glucan maltohydrolase, and an alpha amylase which specifically generates maltose units and also has no glucanase nor proteinase effect have been recommended for grains.
For legumes selected cellulases may be used alone or in combination with pectinase.
Ideally, a "broad-spectrum" product, containing selected alfa (and beta)-amylases, carbohydrase and cellulase with pectinase, plus arabinase, betagluconase, hemicellulase and xylanase might be conceivably formulated to deal with a wide range of local feedstocks for particular target areas such as Kwazulu/Natal.
Finally, chitinases have proven active against human pathogens such as Listeria monocytogenes, Clostridium botulinum, Bacillus cereus, Staphylococcus aureus and E coli.
There might be merit, in an enzyme mix to produce an effective baby food, to include chitinases to address potential problems which might arise from the use of poor quality water in the preparation of such gruels.
3.0 INTRODUCTION
The low energy density of gruels applied as infant weaning foods in developing countries causes inadequate nutrient intake.
Babies are often weaned directly to adult porridges which are diluted to make them easier to swallow. Their stomachs are then full before sufficient nutrients are ingested.
Enzymatic digestion of gruel components can address this problem and the application of alfa-amylase to starchy foodstuffs is widely promoted in tropical developing countries through missionaries and churches reached by ECHO, a nonprofit, interdenominational Christian organization.
Their approach relies on incorporating endogenous alpha-amylase generated by adding about 1% crushed germinating grains [millet, sorghum, maize, wheat, rice - most active when about to burst] into starch gruels. [It is worth noting that substantial ingestion of germinating sorghum can be hazardous : merely 100 g can deliver an average fatal HCN dose of around 55 mg.]
The concept of using germinating seed to provide amylase for gruel thinning derived from a Swedish Development Agency [SEDA] Report; and was subsequent promoted by Noel Vietmeyer of the US National Academy of Sciences.
According to an ECHO publication [Meitzner & Price, 1996] the quantity of gruel delivering 100 kJ energy and 1.6 grammes protein at weaning feed consistency is reduced from 400 grammes for untreated gruel to 120 grammes for that enzymatically enhanced. The enzymatically released sugar sweetens and enhances the gruel taste.
Providing alpha-amylase consistently and of consistent activity from sprouting grains could prove relatively challenging; and furthermore baby foods and weaning foods are derived from a number of feedstocks other than starches, for which other enzymes would be required.
Some other food enzymes are also active against serious bacterial infections which might accompany gruels diluted with unboiled water.
Some feedstocks and enzyme systems which could be useful in their conversion to infant gruels and in providing control over bacterial infection is set out below.
4.0 FEEDSTOCKS AND ENZYME SYSTEMS
Gruels in developing countries are primarilly made from tuberous feedstocks, although fruit, grain and legume-based baby food products are found among developed country baby foods.
This monograph will deal with the wider range of feedstocks in order to increase the range of options for developing countries.
4.1 TUBEROUS FEEDSTOCKS
The range of starchy feedstocks other than potatoes and the range of products which can be prepared from them is astounding [Slimak, 1993].
However their enzymatic degradation would not appear to be particularly challenging at it would seem that most alpha-amylases, selected probably on cost, would suffice.
The wide applicability of selected alpha-amylases [on tuberous, grain and legume feedstocks] as discussed in Section 4.5 below also suggests that a comprehensive capability for dealing with many tuber feedstocks with such enzymes should be expected.
However application of the pectinase/cellulase combination of Sherman & Mrozik [1992] discussed below under Section 4.2, to carrots, suggests additional avenues of attack should more challenging feedstocks require it.
4.2 FRUIT FEEDSTOCKS
Although developed for other purposes [visual enhancement of exposed flesh], the pectinase/cellulase combination of Sherman & Mrozik [1992] could find wider application in liquifying fruits.
Specific products suggested include :
Biocon [1833 57th Street, Sarasota, FL 34243] : Biopectinase S.S.
Enzyme Development Corporation [2 Penn Plaza, Suite 2439, New York, NY 10121 -0034] : Enzico Pectinase
Genencor Inc [180 Kimball Way, South San Francisco, CA 94080] : Cytolase CL : Applied at 500 - 1400 ppm Cytolase M101 : Applied at 800 - 1400 ppm and pH 5.4 Pectinol HS : Applied at 2600 - 4000 ppm
Rohm Tech Inc [195 Canal Street, Malden, MA 02148] : Rohament K
See also the multi-enzyme [carbohydrase and cellulase] Viscozyme system noted by Chukwu [2000].
4.3 GRAIN FEEDSTOCKS
Lindahl ao [1997] have focussed on oats, and an enzyme system which retains agreeable flavourings and aromatics - unlike simple alpha-amylase alone.
They add beta-amylase which has not glucanase nor proteinase effect, preferably 1,4-alpha-D-glucan maltohydrolase, and an alpha amylase which specifically generates maltose units and also has no glucanase nor proteinase effect.
See also the multi-enzyme [carbohydrase and cellulase] Viscozyme L system noted by Chukwu [2000].
4.4 LEGUME FEEDSTOCKS
Chukwu [2000] notes that the multi-enzyme system Viscozyme L contains the prefered mixture of carbohydrase and cellulase [plus arabinase, betagluconase, hemicellulase and xylanase], and is useful for application in the hydration of beans as well as
in the treatment of grains and fruits.
Conditions are about 1% enzyme [relative to dry feedstock] and pH 4.5 [vinegar].
He notes that although this system breaks down the cell walls which provide structure to cereal and vegetable materials, the low amylase content and lack of lipase activity ensures that the major components of the plant materials are not affected.
Chukwu states that the Gist-Brocade products Cytolase and Rapidase are also suitable.
Murata ao [1982] uses cellulase alone [4000 - 10000 ppm enzyme relative to dry feedstock, around pH 4]; or cellulase plus pectinase [3000 to 10000 ppm of each enzyme relative to dry feedstock, around pH 4.2].
Suitable cellulases to use alone include :
Kinki Yakult Co [Japan] : Cellulase Onozuka
Kyowa Hakko Co Ltd [Japan] : Driserase
Meiji Seika Co [Japan] : Meicelase
Cellulases inferior on their own but satisfactory with pectinase
include :
Chemische Fabrik Naarden [Holland] : Takamine Cellulase
Nagase Sangyo Co [Japan] : Celluzyme Cellulase-Nagaze
Sankyo Co Ltd [Japan] : FA-53-1
Toyo Jozo C [Japan] : Toyo-Cellulase
Ueda Kagaku Co [Japan] : Cellulosin AP Cellulosin AC
Pectinases include :
Kinki Yakult Co [Japan] : Macerozyme
Sankyo Co Ltd [Japan] : Sclase S
4.5 GENERAL
The application of the multi-enzyme [carbohydrase and cellulase] Viscozyme L system to a variety of feedstocks such as legumes, grains and fruits is noted by Chukwu [2000].
Buffa & Holliger [1976] suggests using as little as 400 ppm of any one of three alfa-amylases for a variety of mixed feedstocks containing tuberous, grain and legume feedstocks :
Societe Rapidase [Seclin, France] : BDE 2000
Miles Chemicals Co [Elkhart, Indiana, USA] : HT 1000 : 1000 ppm @ pH 7
Daiwa Kasei KK [Osaka, Japan] : DIASMEN
In one example, 500 ppm H T 100 is supplemented by DIAZYME L-30, (a 3.2.1.3.alpha - 1.4 glucan-glucohydrolase); applied at 3500 ppm @ pH 5.5.
5.0 CONTROL OF BACTERIAL INFECTIONS
Scott [1988] notes that chitinases, released by germinating soybeans and other legumes are active against a variety of human pathogens such as :
Listeria monocytogenes
Clostridium botulinum
Bacillus cereus
Staphylococcus aureus
Escherichia coli
Hydrolytic enzymes, such as chitinase and beta-1,3-glucanase, are known to inhibit fungal growth [Schlumbaum ao [1986], Mauch ao [1988] and Burri [1989].
Furthermore, Boller ao [1983] note that those enzymes can be purified quite easily.
Ogasawara ao [1973] also disclose that the combination of beta-1,3-glucanase and chitinase is an effective fungicide and bactericide useful in the treatment of rice.
There might be merit, in an enzyme mix to produce an effective baby food, to include chitinases to address potential problems which might arise from the use of poor quality water in the preparation of such gruels.
6.0 REFERENCES
Boller ao [1983]. Planta, 157:22-31
Buffa, Aldo and Adolf Holliger [1976]. Process for making foods and feeds. US patent 3,950,543
Burri, Diplomarbeit (1989)
Chukwu, Uchenna N [2000]. Method for hydrating dry edible beans. US patent 6,033,692
Lindahl, Lennart; Inger Ahlden; Rickhard Oste and Ingegerd Sjoholm [1997]. Homogenous and stable cereal suspension and method of making same. US patent 5,686,123.
Mauch, F., B. Mauch-Mani and T. Boller [1988]. Antifungal hydrolases in pea tissue II. Inhibition of fungal growth by combinations of chitinase and beta-1,3-glucanase. Plant Physiol. 88:936-942
Meitzner, Laura S and Martin L Price [1996]. Amaranth to Zai Holes. ECHO. ISBN 0-9653360-0-X
Murata, Susuma; Noriyuki Shimizu and Sadao Kokeguchi [1982]. Processed dry beans as instant food and their manufacturing method. US patent 4,333,955
Ogasawara ao [1973]. Chem. Abstracts, 79: 13362v
Sherman, Mark and Michelle A Mrozik [1992]. Enzymatic treatment
of produce cell wall fragments. US Patent 5,120,552
Schlumbaum ao [1986]. Nature, 324:365-367
Scott [1988] - need to track down
Slimak, Karin M [1993]. Flour, bread, milk, and other products from white sweet potatoes cassava, edible aroids, amaranth, yams, and lotus. US Patent 5,244,689
Want to help implement this in by birthplace - Zululand ?
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