Australia
April 20, 2007
New cereal grains with high levels
of resistant starch could improve bowel health and prevent large
bowel disease, according to research presented in America today
by CSIRO scientist Dr David
Topping.
Resistant starch is the fraction
of starch that escapes digestion in the small intestine and is
ultimately digested in the large bowel.
Why is that important? Dr Topping, a Senior Scientist with CSIRO
Food Futures and Preventative Health National Research
Flagships, says many westernised populations have low fibre
intakes, which not only affect ‘regularity’ but also can
heighten risk for several serious non-infectious large bowel
diseases.
Dr Topping says resistant starch intakes appear to be low in
most affluent industrialised countries. This is a matter of
concern and increasing its consumption by modifying the
resistant starch content in consumer foods is an important
strategy to improve public health.
In his presentation to the Conference on Gastrointestinal
Function in Chicago today, Dr Topping will explain how resistant
starch contributes to total dietary fibre and its importance in
promoting large bowel health.
He will also elaborate on the new high resistant starch, or
amylose, cereals being developed by the Food Futures Flagship
and its partners with the potential to provide benefits in the
areas of bowel health, diabetes and obesity.
“Cereals with high amylose have the potential to be important
components of foods with a low glycaemic index, and with
favourable attributes that promote bowel health and potentially
reduce the risk of colorectal cancer,” Dr Topping says.
“The Food Futures Flagship is developing new wheat varieties to
meet the community’s emerging health needs,” says the Flagship’s
Director, Dr Bruce Lee. “These high-RS wheats produce
nutritionally significant levels of RS and can be incorporated
into breads, cereals and other foods.”
The Flagship’s research in this area is an example of the
successful collaboration of industry partners together with
multi-disciplinary scientific expertise drawn from CSIRO Human
Nutrition, CSIRO Plant Industry and Food Science Australia – a
joint venture between CSIRO and the Victorian Government. |
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