Articles publicats (Tecnologia, Enginyeria i Ciència dels Aliments)
Permanent URI for this collection
Browse
Recent Submissions
- ItemOpen AccessAbdominal adipose tissue fibrosis as an obesity biomarker in clinical practice(Karger, 2026) Martínez Subirà, Mariona; Pallares, Judit; Salinas-Roca, Blanca; Buenaventura-Collazos, Daisy; Hernández, Cristina; Simó, Rafael; Lecube, AlbertIntroduction The aims of the study were to describe a biopsy procedure to obtain subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT) samples for fibrosis assessment in patients with adipose-based chronic disease (ABCD) and to explore potential associations between SAT fibrosis and comorbidities. Methods Single-center, cross-sectional study conducted at the Arnau de Vilanova University Hospital (Lleida, Spain) between January and December 2024. We included patients aged 18–65 years attending their first appointment in the Obesity Unit. Between-group comparisons were performed using Student’s t-test for continuous variables and chi-square tests for categorical variables, and correlations were assessed using Spearman’s rank correlation coefficient. Results 58 patients were recruited and 50 were included in the final analysis. Most were female (76.0%), with a mean age of 47.1 years (SD: 10.8), and a mean BMI of 46.3 kg/m2 (SD: 5.0). The biopsy technique evolved over time, reducing the procedure duration from 55 min to under 10 min without any adverse events. SAT fibrosis was observed in 10 patients (20.0%), who showed a higher prevalence of type 2 diabetes (50.0% vs. 15.0%, p = 0.017), significantly higher aspartate transaminase and gamma-glutamyl transferase, and elevated signs of liver fibrosis. Conclusion SAT fibrosis was associated with ABCD comorbidities and could serve as a tool for risk stratification beyond traditional indicators.
- ItemOpen AccessBarley extrudates modulate the gut microbiome– metabolome axis in vitro through β-glucan fermentation and polyphenol biotransformation(The Royal Society of Chemistry, 2026-05-12) Martínez Subirà, Mariona; Cortijo-Alfonso, Maria Engracia; Friero Moreno, Iván; Macià i Puig, Ma Alba; Pena i Subirà, Ramona Natacha; Molinero, Natalia; Moreno-Arribas, M. Victoria; Rubió Piqué, Laura; Moralejo Vidal, Mª AngelesBarley is rich in fermentable dietary fiber and phenolic compounds, both of which have recognized benefits for gut health and whose functionality is influenced by processing. Here, four barley genotypes differing in beta-glucan content, type of starch, and phenolic profiles were extruded to obtain ready-to-eat products, which were then evaluated using a combined in vitro digestion-colonic fermentation model. The gastrointestinal fate of beta-glucans and phenolics, short-chain fatty acids production, phenolic metabolite formation, and gut microbiota composition were assessed. After digestion, substantial amounts of beta-glucans and phenolics remained in the non-bioaccessible fraction, supporting their relevance as substrates for colonic fermentation. During fermentation, the beta-glucan-rich genotypes Annapurna (R) and Hilose (R) showed the strongest butyrogenic response, while the purple-grain genotype DHL-151340, characterized by a flavone- and anthocyanin-rich profile, showed an earlier and more pronounced accumulation of low-molecular-weight phenolic catabolites. Compared with the control, barley extrudates induced time-dependent shifts in microbiota composition, although community profiles tended to converge at later fermentation stages. Overall, genotype- and processing-driven differences translated into distinct fermentation and phenolic biotransformation footprints, highlighting the relevance of barley matrix composition in shaping the colonic fate of cereal bioactive compounds.
- ItemOpen AccessImpact of environmental factors on the growth kinetics and mycotoxin profiles of Alternaria spp. in oat grains(Elsevier, 2026) Llorens-Serentill, Enric; Nazareth de Melo, Tiago; Ramos Girona, Antonio J.; Costa, Jean Carlos Correia Peres; Marín Sillué, SòniaAlternaria spp. represent a threat to oat safety due to their ability to produce mycotoxins such as alternariol (AOH), alternariol monomethyl ether (AME), tenuazonic acid (TeA), and tentoxin (TEN). This study developed predictive models to describe the growth kinetics and mycotoxin production potential of Alternaria alternata and Alternaria arborescens on γ-irradiated oat grains under combined temperature (5–40 ◦C) and water activity (0.90–0.98) conditions. Four toxigenic isolates from oats (three A. alternata and one A. arborescens) were assessed in a full-factorial design. Mycelial growth was modelled using a primary simplified Baranyi model and secondary models (Cardinal Model with Inflection and gamma-concept) to estimate cardinal parameters (Tmin, Topt, Tmax, aw (min), aw(opt), μRopt). A. alternata exhibited higher thermotolerance (Tmax ≈40 ◦C) than A. arborescens (Tmax ≈ 35 ◦C), with optimal growth at 27–29 ◦C and aw ≥0.98 for both species. Growth and toxin production were strongly restricted below aw 0.90. Under optimal aw conditions, AOH peaked at 30 ◦C for A. alternata isolates (322–398 mg/kg) and at 20 ◦C for A. arborescens (92 mg/kg); AME reached its maximum at 25 ◦C for both species (17–175 mg/kg and 1067 mg/kg for A. alternata and A. arborescens, respectively); TeA also peaked at 25 ◦C (357–800 mg/kg and 357 mg/kg, respectively); and TEN was mainly produced by A. alternata 25 ◦C (1.25–1.8 mg/kg), while A. arborescens produced only minimal levels at 20 ◦C (≤0.05 mg/kg). These differences suggest a potential competitive advantage for the more thermotolerant A. alternata under projected Mediterranean climate warming scenarios, which may alter fungal species dominance and mycotoxin contamination patterns in oats. The predictive models provide a robust quantitative tool for risk assessment and for designing mitigation strategies across oat production and storage.
- ItemOpen AccessEffects of different carbohydrase complexes on dietary fiber composition, techno‑functional properties, and structural characteristics of apple pomace(Springer Nature Link, 2026) Díaz Núñez, Alba; López-Gámez, Gloria; Martín Belloso, Olga; Soliva-Fortuny, Robert; Elez Martínez, PedroApple pomace (AP), a fiber-rich by-product of juice processing, holds potential as a functional ingredient. However, its highly insoluble nature limits its applicability in food formulations. This study compared the effectiveness of two enzymatic complexes, a carbohydrolytic enzyme complex (CHEC) or a cellulolytic enzyme complex (CEC), in reducing the AP insoluble profile. Structural changes were analyzed using Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), X-ray diffraction, and particle size. Techno-functional properties, including solubility, water retention capacity (WRC), oil retention capacity (ORC), and swelling capacity (SWC), were also evaluated. Both enzymes significantly (p < 0.05) reduced the lignin and hemicellulose contents, while increasing soluble DF components such as soluble uronic acid and neutral sugars. CEC decreased cellulose content by 20%, whereas CHEC did not affect it. While CHEC treatment reduced WRC by 20%, it yielded the highest solubility. CEC enhanced SWC and solubility by 45% and 59%, respectively, compared to untreated AP. FT-IR and DSC results demonstrated that both enzymatic treatments disrupted the hydrogen bonding of cellulose and hemicellulose, as well as the pectic β-glycosidic linkages, thereby reducing particle size and enhancing techno-functional properties. Consequently, CHEC and CEC emerge as viable strategies to enhance AP functionality through DF modification. CHEC is particularly efficient, requiring lower enzyme concentrations, milder processing conditions, and shorter hydrolysis times. These findings highlight enzymatic modification as a promising approach for valorizing AP as a functional ingredient.
- ItemOpen AccessDetection of deoxynivalenol, its modified forms, and zearalenone in individual oat grains using visible-near-infrared spectroscopy and near-infrared hyperspectral imaging(Elsevier, 2026) Teixido-Orries, Irene; Molino Gahete, Francisco; Femenias, Antoni; Medina, Àngel; Marín Sillué, SòniaFusarium mycotoxins such as deoxynivalenol (DON), its modified forms, and zearalenone (ZEN) frequently contaminate oats, posing serious health and regulatory concerns. This study assessed the use of visible-near-infrared (Vis-NIR) spectroscopy and near-infrared hyperspectral imaging (NIR-HSI) to classify individual oat grains according to the European legal limits for DON (1750 μg/kg) and ZEN (100 μg/kg). NIR-HSI consistently outperformed Vis-NIR, achieving classification accuracies (CAs) above 91% and F1-scores above 0.65 for DON, ZEN and combined DON + ZEN detection. The most informative spectral regions were in the NIR ranges of 1000-1250 nm and 1300-1500 nm, associated with Fusarium-induced biochemical and structural changes in oat grains. Reducing the spectral input to 20 selected wavelengths preserved NIR-HSI performance, supporting the feasibility of multispectral implementations. These targeted, non-destructive approaches could enable early removal of the few highly contaminated grains responsible for batch rejection, improving food safety, reducing waste, and enhancing the sustainability of oat processing.