Evaluation of methods for estimating starch digestibility and digestion kinetics in ruminants

Digestion site of starch from cereals and legumes in lactating dairy cows

Corn Grain Endosperm Type and Brown Midrib 3 Corn Silage: Site of Digestion and Ruminal Digestion Kinetics in Lactating Cows

BackgroundStarch is the main source of energy in commonly used pig diets. Besides effects related to the extent of starch digestion, also several effects related to variation in digestion rate have recently been demonstrated in non-ruminants. Different rates of starch digestion in animals and in in vitro models have been reported, depending on the botanic origin of starch. Starches from different botanic sources differ widely in structural and molecular properties. Predicting the effect of starch properties on in vitro digestion kinetics based on existing literature is hampered by incomplete characterization of the starches, or by a selective choice of starches from a limited number of botanic sources. This research aimed to analyse the relationships between starch properties and in vitro digestion kinetics of pure starches isolated from a broad range of botanic origins, which are used in non-ruminant diets or have a potential to be used in the future. Therefore we studied starch digestion kinetics of potato, pea, corn, rice, barley, and wheat starches, and analysed the granule diameter, number of pores, type and amount of crystalline structure, amylose content and amylopectin side-chain length of all starches.ResultsMultivariate analysis revealed strong correlations among starch properties, leading us to conclude that effects of most starch characteristics are strongly interrelated. Across all analysed botanic sources, crystalline type and amylopectin chain length showed the strongest correlation with in vitro digestion kinetics. Increased percentages of A–type crystalline structure and amylopectin side chains of DP 6–24 both increased the rate of digestion. In addition, within, but not across, (clusters of) botanic sources, a decrease in amylose content and increase in number of pores correlated positively with digestion kinetics.ConclusionThe type of crystalline structure and amylopectin chain length distribution of starch correlate significantly with digestion kinetics of starches across botanic sources in an in vitro pig model. Variation in digestion kinetics across botanic sources is not additively explained by other starch properties measured, but appears to be confined within botanical sources.

Impact of resistant vs. digested starch on starch energy value in the pig gut

Starch Digestion Rate in the Small Intestine of Broiler Chickens Differs among Feedstuffs

A study was conducted to examine the effect of starch and nitrogen digestion kinetics on broiler performance using sorghum-based diets as a model. Three sorghum varieties with red, white and yellow pericarps and three feed forms, mash, intact pellets and reground pellets, constituted a 3 × 3 factorial array of dietary treatments. Starch and nitrogen digestion kinetics were determined using an exponential mathematical model to relate digestion coefficients in the proximal jejunum, proximal ileum and distal ileum with mean retention times in each segment. There were interactions between sorghum variety and feed form for starch and nitrogen digestion kinetics. Steam-pelleting at a conditioning temperature of 90°C (unprocessed mash versus reground pellets) substantially influenced starch digestion rate in red and yellow sorghum-based diets, but not in white sorghum-based diets. Alternatively, with nitrogen digestion rate, there were no significant differences in yellow sorghum-based diets between feed forms but there were in red and white sorghum-based diets. The digestion rate of starch was more rapid than nitrogen, especially in the proximal jejunum. Starch digestion rates were significantly correlated with nitrogen retention but this was not the case with nitrogen digestion rates. The rate of glucose absorption from predicted glycaemic indices was highly correlated with enhanced feed efficiency. Thus this study demonstrates that even under ad libitum feeding regimes, kinetics of starch and protein digestion regulated feed efficiency and nitrogen retention in broiler chickens. The dynamics of starch and protein digestion were more accurate indicators of feed efficiency and nitrogen retention than apparent ileal starch and nitrogen digestibility.

Thermal degradation of sugars and amino acids, and depolymerization of macromolecules such as starch, proteins and fibre occasioned by high-temperature short-time extrusion cooking modify the physicochemical and functional properties of raw materials. High-temperature short-time extrusion cooking holds promise for the expanded use of non-conventional ingredients as food/feed due to its practicality, increased productivity and efficiency, and ability to retain thermally degradable nutrients during cooking. However, little is known about the effect of the high-temperature short-time extrusion cooking process on the physicochemical properties and starch digestibility of lesser-known grain legumes such as African yam beans (Sphenostylis stenocarpa), Pigeon pea (Cajanus cajan), and Bambara peanut (Vigna subterranean). In this study, we investigate the effect of high-temperature short-time extrusion cooking and extrusion cooking temperature; low (100°C) vs high (140°C) temperatures in a single screw extruder, on hydration characteristics, viscoamylolytic properties, in vitro starch digestibility and digestion kinetics of these grain legumes. We show that water holding capacity and swelling power increased (p < 0.05) with increasing extrusion temperature for Sphenostylis stenocarpa and Vigna subterranean but not Cajanus cajan extrudates. Significant effects of extrusion cooking (i.e unextruded vs 100°C and unextruded vs 140°C) and extrusion temperatures (i.e. 100°C vs 140°C) were observed in peak, trough, final and setback viscosities of all extrudates. Starch digestibility and digestion characteristics were modified with increase in extrusion temperature, however, no effect of extrusion temperatures (i.e. 100°C vs 140°C) on starch digestion kinetics was observed for Sphenostylis stenocarpa and Vigna subterranean except for hydrolysis index (34.77 vs 40.77%). Nutritional and physiological implications of extruded grain legumes in monogastric animal feeding were also highlighted. The Information presented herein will influence expanded use of extruded grain legumes as feed ingredients for intensive monogastric animal feeding.

Prediction of in vivo starch digestion in cattle from in situ data

Site and extent of starch digestion of whole-plant maize silages differing in maturity stage and chop length, in dairy cows

Starch is the largest constituent in animal diets. The aims of this study were as follows: (a) to assess the variability of basic physicochemical properties and in vitro starch digestion of starchy feedstuffs and investigate relationship between physicochemical properties and starch digestion of the feedstuffs, and (b) to explore the effects of different sources of starchy feedstuffs on starch digestion and glucose release. In this study, we determined the inherent molecular structure and granular structure of starch and chemical compositions of seven starchy feedstuffs, as well as starch digestion in single feedstuff and different feedstuffs combined with corn. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) results revealed significant difference between granule shape and size of starch of different feedstuffs. Fourier transforms infrared (FTIR) spectra for barley and wheat had lower (p<0.05) absorbance band at areas A_860 and A_928 than other feedstuffs, yet rice starch had the lowest value for ratio (R) (1047/1022). Moreover, digestion rate ranged from 0.0157/min for resistant starch (sorghum) to 0.029/min for rapidly starch (broken rice). The principle component analysis (PCA) showed that predicted glycaemic index (pGI) was positively related to A_1022, glucose and rapidly (RDS) content and negatively related to A_995, A_1047, R (1047/1022), resistant starch (RS) and amylose content. Most of the feedstufss with corn combination had no effect on rate of starch digestion. In addition, different starchy feeds and corn combination changed the rate of starch digestion, when barley, however, sorghum combined with corn seemed to affect rate of starch digestion. To sum up, different sources differed in basic physicochemical and structural properties, which would influence the digestion rate of starch and the release of glucose. Combination of different feedstuffs particular sorghum with corn has interactive effect on starch digestion and the release of glucose.

The kinetics of starch digestion is a key determinant of poultry performance. Research so far has shown that starch digestibility kinetics depends on the molecular structure of starch but also on the properties of the complex matrix in which starch granules are embedded in most feedstuffs. However, the manner in which genotype differences in the same plant affect starch digestibility kinetics has not yet been addressed. The present study explored the extent to which the starch digestibility rate in commercial high-yielding maize hybrids depended on amylose / amylopectin content, starch granule size and shape, and zein in total starch (TS) content. Hybrids differed in all the traits examined, giving the following ranges: amylose content, 165-207 g kg-1 DM; zein in TS content, 70-89 g kg-1 DM; starch granule equivalent diameter, 11.5-12.3 μm, and in vitro starch digestion rate, 1.22-1.44 h-1 . The starch digestion rate correlated negatively with zein in TS content (r = -0.36) and positively with equivalent diameter (r = 0.45). The negative correlation between starch digestion rate and zein in TS suggests that some zein remained after grinding and pepsin incubation and acted as a barrier to amylolytic enzymes. When starch granules are embedded in a complex protein matrix, zein limits their accessibility to enzymes and affects the starch digestibility rate. Surprisingly, our results suggest that when enzymes reach starch granules, they digest a greater proportion of the starch when the granules are larger. © 2019 Society of Chemical Industry.

Effects of Saccharomyces cerevisiae fermentation product on ruminal starch digestion are dependent upon dry matter intake for lactating cows

Influence of white- and red-sorghum varieties and hydrothermal component of steam-pelleting on digestibility coefficients of amino acids and kinetics of amino acids, nitrogen and starch digestion in diets for broiler chickens

In vitro starch digestion and predicted glycemic index of cereal grains commonly utilized in pig nutrition

Effects of tea polyphenols and gluten addition on in vitro wheat starch digestion properties