Search Results (2)

Microbial transglutaminase (mTG) is most frequently utilized in order to increase the gelling properties of soybean protein isolate (SPI), but there are still some limitations of mTG-based hydrogel fabrication technology. Therefore, we aimed to develop a dual modification technique based on enzyme plus organic acid treatment to fabricate SPI hydrogels with high gel strength and stability. Our results showed that mTG plus glucose-δ-lactone (GDL), lactobionic acid (LBA) or maltobionic acid (MBA) treatment could significantly improve the gel strength, textural properties, and water-holding capacity of SPI hydrogels. Also, the addition of these organic acids remarkably reduced the surface hydrophobicity (H₀) and intrinsic fluorescence as well as increased the storage modulus (G′), loss modulus (G″) values, average particle size, and the absolute value of zeta potential of samples. GDL, LBA, or MBA greatly increased the β-sheet level and decreased the α-helix level in hydrogels, as well as dissociated 11S subunits of SPI into 7S subunits. Notably, covalent interactions, hydrogen bonding, and hydrophobic interactions of three organic acids with SPI, as well as the effects of organic acids on the interactions among the intramolecular and intermolecular forces of SPI molecules, contributed to their promoting effects on the formation of hydrogels. The LF-NMR and SEM analyses confirmed the effects of GDL, LBA, and MBA on converting the free water into immobilized and bound water as well as forming a dense stacked aggregate structure. Therefore, GDL, LBA, and MBA are promising agents to be combined with mTG in the fabrication of SPI hydrogels with high gel strength and stability. Full article

Background/Objectives: Facial bone density, including the jawbone, declines earlier than that of the lumbar spine and calcaneus. Calcium maltobionate is reported to mitigate bone resorption and maintain bone density of the lumbar spine in post-menopausal women, but its effects on facial bone density remain understudied. Therefore, this study compared variations in facial bone mineral density with variations in calcaneal bone mineral density and bone resorption markers among healthy women, examining differences between pre- and post-menopause and the effects of continuous calcium maltobionate intake. Methods: This randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group trial involved 48 healthy Japanese women aged 30–69 years, divided into two groups. The test food group received tablets containing calcium maltobionate, while the placebo group received tablets containing a maltose and calcium carbonate mixture for 24 weeks. Calcaneal and facial bone densities were measured pre- and post-intervention in both groups. Results: Post-intervention calcaneal bone mineral density and bone resorption marker deoxypyridinoline (DPD) showed no statistical difference between groups in pre-menopausal women. However, in post-menopausal women, the test food group exhibited significantly higher calcaneal bone density and lower DPD levels compared with the placebo group. Facial bone mineral density increased significantly in the test food group compared with the placebo group in post-menopausal participants, with similar trends observed in pre-menopausal participants. Conclusions: Facial bone mineral density could serve as a useful indicator for monitoring bone health from middle age onward. Moreover, continuous calcium maltobionate intake appears to mitigate bone density decline in pre- and post-menopausal women, contributing to osteoporosis prevention (UMIN-CTR ID: 000046391). Full article