Food Puree for Seniors: The Effects of XanFlax as a New Thickener on Physicochemical and Antioxidant Properties

With the increasing number of older adults, the elderly-friendly food market has been rapidly growing. The physicochemical and antioxidant properties of soymilk-based banana-blueberry-puree with and without flaxseed-based (XanFlax) and xanthan-gum-based (brand G) thickeners were compared as a potent...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Foods
Main Authors: Chang Geun Lee, Youn Young Shim, Martin J. T. Reaney, Hye-Ja Chang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2021-05-01
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2304-8158/10/5/1100
Description
Summary:With the increasing number of older adults, the elderly-friendly food market has been rapidly growing. The physicochemical and antioxidant properties of soymilk-based banana-blueberry-puree with and without flaxseed-based (XanFlax) and xanthan-gum-based (brand G) thickeners were compared as a potential senior food. Samples included a control, three treatments with XanFlax (1%, 3%, and 5%), and three treatments with brand G (1.35%, 2.7%, and 5.4%). The physicochemical (color, sugar, salinity, pH, viscosity, and hardness) and antioxidant properties [DPPH, ABTS, reducing power (RP), and total polyphenol content (TPC)] were compared. The chromaticity values (<i>L*</i>, <i>a*</i>, and <i>b*</i>) and pHs were similar among all treatments and the control, but the salinity of brand G showed statistical differences (<i>p</i> < 0.05). All samples met the Korean Industrial Standards for senior foods in terms of viscosity and hardness, while samples with brand G were harder and more viscous than those with XanFlax and the control (<i>p</i> < 0.001). XanFlax samples had greater ABTS radical scavenging activities than the control and brand G samples (<i>p</i> < 0.001). Although, the developed puree can be a possible senior food product without the addition of thickeners, XanFlax might be applied as a non-xanthan gum-based viscosity thickener with antioxidant functions for senior-friendly foods.
ISSN:2304-8158