In this study, a milk chocolate formulation was developed to serve as vehicle of Omega-3 (ω3) polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) and probiotics (L. plantarum 299v and L. rhamnosus GG). Fish oil (FO) was incorporated in chocolate as a source of ω3 PUFAs. Probiotics (Prob) and FO were added during tempering, obtaining chocolates with 76.0 ± 5.2 mg (FO1) or 195.8 ± 6.5 mg (FO2) of ω3 PUFAs, and >1 × 106 CFU of Prob per chocolate portion (12 g). The physicochemical properties (rheological analysis, texture, surface instrumental color, aw, and fatty acid profile), and sensory acceptability of the formulations were determined. Prob and FO generated a decrease in L* and white index (WI) values. Except for Prob + FO2, all treatments showed a decrease in aw. Rheological parameters of FO1 and Prob + FO1 presented the most similar behavior as compared with the control. Prob or FO1 addition did not affect the overall consumer’s acceptability of chocolate; and when both nutraceuticals were combined (Prob + FO1) the product showed adequate overall acceptability. FO2 formulations were not considered adequate to maintain physicochemical properties and sensory acceptability of chocolate. Results indicated that milk chocolate is a suitable vehicle for delivering ω3 PUFAs and Prob, which are essential to enhance cognitive development in children.

Modelado de la biodegradación en biorreactores de lodos de hidrocarburos totales del petróleo intemperizados en suelos y sedimentos (Biodegradation modeling of sludge bioreactors of total petroleum hydrocarbons weathering in soil and sediments)

Consumer demand for healthier foods with improved taste and convenience has urged the food industry to develop functional foods added with bioactive ingredients that can supplement basic nutrition (food supplement) or exert a pharmacological effect (nutraceuticals). Chocolate could be used as an ideal carrier to deliver bioactive ingredients, mainly due to its high acceptability by consumers. However, a drawback of using chocolate as functional food is its high sugar content, which impedes its commercialization with the diabetic population. Therefore, there is need to develop sugar-free chocolate formulations added with bioactive ingredients. Nevertheless, sugar replacement and bioactive ingredients addition is a major technological challenge that affects texture, rheology, and sensory properties of chocolate. This review is designed as a practical guide for researchers and food industries to develop the next generation of functional chocolates. Different functional chocolate formulations, including sugar-free, are reviewed as potential carriers for the delivery of bioactive compounds. The physicochemical properties and sensory acceptability of the functional chocolates presented are also highlighted. Finally, future perspectives, such as the use of nanotechnology to improve the bioaccessibility and bioavailability of active ingredients, as well as the need for clinical trials to validate the pharmacological effect of functional chocolates, are also discussed.

Chocolate is an adequate matrix to deliver bioactive ingredients. However, it contains high sugar levels, one of the leading causes of chronic degenerative diseases. This work aimed to evaluate the effects of milk chocolate reformulation with alternative sugar sweeteners (Sw; isomalt + stevia), probiotics (Prob), and ω-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) on its physicochemical properties and consumers’ acceptability. Lactobacillus plantarum 299v (L. p299v) and Lactobacillus acidophilus La3 (DSMZ 17742) were added as Prob strains, and fish oil (FO) was added as the source of ω-3 PUFAs. Prob addition resulted in chocolates with >2 × 107 colony forming unit (CFU) per serving size (12 g). Except for Prob, aw values of all treatments were <0.46. Sw and Sw + Prob presented the nearest values to the control in hardness, whereas Sw without FO increased fracturability. FO, Sw + FO, and Sw + Prob + FO contained 107.4 ± 12.84, 142.9 ± 17.9, and 133.78 ± 8.76 mg of ω-3 PUFAs per chocolate, respectively. Prob + FO increased the resistance of chocolate to shear stress, while Sw + FO showed a similar flow behavior to the control. The consumers’ acceptability of Sw + Prob chocolate was adequate, while Sw + Prob + FO had higher acceptability than Prob + FO. Health benefits of reformulated milk chocolates requires further assessment by in vitro, in vivo and clinical studies.

BackgroundCognition and brain function is critical through childhood and should be improved with balanced diets. Incorporating bioactive ingredients such as omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (ω3 PUFAs) and probiotics into food formulations could be used as an approach to improve cognitive function. This study evaluated the effects on cognitive capacity of complementing rodent diets with chocolate, by itself and in combination with ω3 PUFAs from fish oil and probiotics.MethodsSpatial learning and memory in the rats were determined by the Barnes maze test in short- and long-term memory. Samples from the cecum were obtained to assess microbial counts (Lactobacillus, Bifidobacterium, Enterobacteriaceae, and total bacteria), and brains were recovered to analyze the neural morphology of the tissues. Also, glucose, brain weights, and epididymal tissue were analyzed.ResultsThe combination of chocolate with fish oil and probiotics improved the memory of rats compared to the result of each bioactive compound when evaluated separately. Treatments did not affect sugar level, epididymal adipose tissue, or brain weight. On the other hand, consuming probiotics alone or in combination with chocolate decreased Enterobacteria counts, while Lactobacillus and Bifidobacteria counts were not affected. Neural morphological analysis showed that combining chocolate with probiotics and ω3 PUFAs increased the number of neurons in the hippocampal CA1 and CA3 regions.ConclusionChocolate added with probiotics and ω3 PUFAs improved spatial memory and learning in the studied model.