Abstract:
While a high fiber diet helps to prevent colon cancer, lower the risk of heart
disease, and influences metabolic and inflammatory bowel disease, such as diabetes and
diverticulitis, the general population still consumes dietary fiber at a rate below
recommended levels. Home-made meals are rarely seen and are being replaced by
ready-to-cook and ready-to-eat foods. Wheat noodle products have become one of the
food products that are consumed among people of all socioeconomic levels in both
urban and rural areas of Thailand particularly in the form of instant noodles and fresh
wheat noodles. However, instant noodles, especially the fried type, are sometimes
classified by academics as “not nutritious” due to their high salt, fat and carbohydrate
contents and inadequate fiber. Therefore, many attempts have been made to add dietary
fiber to various noodle products with different fiber sources such as soy bean hulls,
green and yellow peas, lentils, garbanzo bean flour, etc. However, high levels of natural
fiber in foods impart poor texture and mouthfeel and unpleasant flavor and odor to the
product. At present, commercial resistant starch (RS) has captured the attention of food
industries for both functional properties and potential benefits that are similar to dietary
fiber. This study aims to formulate resistant starch-enriched fresh wheat noodles and
instant noodles by using commercial resistant starch (Hi-maize®) in order to increase
resistant starch content to provide health benefits as well as to add value to fresh wheat
noodles and instant noodles. RS was applied by partially substituting it for wheat flour
in the noodles formulation. High levels of RS incorporation in noodle products caused
adverse effects to the rheological property of noodle dough as well as the quality of
finished product. To improve the quality of RS-enriched noodle products, it was
necessary to add gluten and an additional amount of water. Results from product
application testing and sensory evaluation indicated that RS could partially substitute for
wheat flour up to 30%. RS-enriched fresh wheat noodles and instant noodles in this
study had total dietary fiber (TDF) values of 16.8 and 16.7 g/ 100g, respectively. This
was markedly higher than the control noodles (about 9 times). The TDF content of RSenriched
fresh wheat noodles and instant noodles was about 8 g per reference amount
which is equals to 33% Thai RDI.
The cost of Hi-maize® was relatively higher than the commercial wheat flour.
However, due to the high TDF content of RS-enriched noodles, they could be
recommended as an alternative food choice for health conscious consumers. This, in
turn, will enhance dietary fiber intake towards the recommended level.