α-Galactosides of Sucrose in Foods: Composition, Flatulence-Causing Effects, and Removal

Abstract

Alpha-galactosides of sucrose, namely raffinose, stachyose and verbascose, are widely distributed in higher plants, especially leguminous seeds. In addition the presence of galactopinitol, galactinol, mannitriose and melibiose in Brassica campestris, soybean and some legumes has been reported. Due to the absence of a -galactosidase activity in human and animal intestine mucosa, these oligosaccharides escape digestion and they are metabolized by bacteria to hydrogen, carbon dioxide and methane. Thus, they are considered to be the principal flatulence-causing factors present in food of plant origin. Furthermore, starch and hemicellulose may contribute to flatulence. A significant positive correlation, between the hydrogen production by rat and the content of α-galactosides of sucrose in legumes consumed, has been reported. Various methods for the removal of flatulence causing oligosaccharides including dehulling, soaking and/or cooking in water and in buffer solutions, irradiation, enzymatic treatment, germination and solvent extraction have been investigated. The pros and cons of these procedures are discussed.The oligosaccharides raffinose, stachyose and verbascose are broadly distributed in higher plants (7). They accumulate in leaves during photosynthesis (2) and in seeds during maturation (3). It is believed that the function of oligosaccharides of the raffinose family in higher plant is to store or transport carbohydrates (4, 5). Moreover, commonly observed accumulation of sucrose and its a-galactosides in leaves and seeds may contribute to cold acclimation and protection of membrane proteins and other biologically active substances from denaturation from the desiccation process toward dormancy (6,7,8). Galactinol is another a-galactoside sugar found in higher plants. This disaccharide acts as a transfer-intermediate for galactose in the biosynthesis of sugars of the raffinose family (2). In foods and feeds sugars of the raffinose family are flatulence causing due to the lack of a-galactosidase

Effects of fatty acids on carbohydrates and lipids of canola seeds during germination

“…One of the aspects studied in different species is the mobilization of reserve compounds during seed germination. Non-germinated canola seed contain about 0.4 g lipid g cotyledons -1 (Nykiforuk and Johnson-Flanagan, 1994) and 0.08 g of soluble carbohydrate g cotyledons -1 (Naczk et al 1997). Carbohydrates and lipids in cotyledons are metabolized during seed germination and their products are used in root and seedling growth.…”

The microbiology of alkaline-fermentation of indigenous seeds used as food condiments in Africa and Asia

“…In addition soybean seeds contain verbascose (Karr-Lilienthal et al 2005). Some of these carbohydrates are non-digestible and have been shown to be associated with abdominal distension and flatulence in humans (Naczk et al 1997;Sarkar et al 1997a). During fermentation microorganisms hydrolyze non-digestible carbohydrates into sugars which are readily digestible by humans and in addition positively influence the texture of the product by softening the tissue (Odunfa 1983;Ouoba et al 2007a;Sarkar et al 1997a).…”

TILLING by Sequencing: A Successful Approach to Identify Rare Alleles in Soybean Populations

“…Thus, to identify new SNPs in the mutant population, an empirically determined frequency of polymorphism from our spike-in control was used as a starting point. After calling SNPs that appeared in the sequenced DNA, we prioritized screening SNPs that met two criteria: (1) An occurrence above a cutoff of 0.15% (above the noise level but somewhat lower than the expected frequency for a homozygous mutation); (2) that created non-synonymous substitutions or nonsense mutations at a conserved position and were, therefore, predicted to be damaging for protein function. We preferred to select SNPs that resulted in a G to A or C to T change diagnostic of NMU-induced mutation (and less likely to be PCR error), and that was unique to one library (thus not a result of amplification of sequences from a homologous sequence in the soybean genome).…”

“…However, the soybean seed also contains carbohydrates that are considered antinutritional. Raffinose and stachyose family oligosaccharides (RFOs) are not easily digested by monogastric animals [2,3], and studies have suggested that lower levels of raffinose and stachyose contribute to faster livestock growth and to better overall health [4,5].…”