D-Allulose, with its low calorie content and sweetness comparable to sucrose, has gained significant attention from researchers as an ideal substitute for sucrose. Here, we investigated the effects of D-allulose on the physicochemical properties and texture of wheat starch. The gelatinization results showed that D-allulose (D-allulose: wheat starch = 1:1 w/w) increased the pasting temperature (56.4 to 65.2 °C) and transition enthalpy (7.9 to 9.0 J/g) of wheat starch systems, and the impact was significantly lower than that of other commonly used small-molecule sugars (sucrose, fructose, glucose). In addition, rheological, texture, and X-ray diffraction analyses confirmed that the addition of D-allulose improved the hardness, gumminess, and recrystallization of retrograded wheat starch gels. Microstructure analysis indicated that the addition of D-allulose enhanced the structural density of wheat starch system, thereby significantly slowing down the retrogradation of wheat starch. D-allulose exhibited unique properties, promoting the gelatinization of wheat starch and delaying its retrogradation. These results will help to promote the wide application of D-allulose in starchy foods with special physiological functions.
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