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Note. Low Molecular Weight Carbohydrates in Foods Usually Consumed in Spain

E. Rico

Instituto del Frìo, Departamento de Metabolismo y Nutriciòn, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Cientìficas (CSIC), Josè Antonio Novais 10, Ciudad Universitaria, 28040 Madrid, Spain

P. Rupèrez

Instituto del Frìo, Departamento de Metabolismo y Nutriciòn, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Cientìficas (CSIC), Josè Antonio Novais 10, Ciudad Universitaria, 28040 Madrid, Spain; pruperez{at}if.csic.es

Low molecular weight carbohydrates (LMWC) were determined in foods usually consumed in Spain, namely: rice, biscuits, white bread, noodles, honey, as well as the most common vegetables of the Mediterranean diet. LMWC in foods contained mono-, di- and oligosaccharides; soluble sugars ranged from 0.2% to 83.8% in rice and honey, respectively. All samples contained different amounts of sucrose, glucose and fructose, except for garlic that only contained sucrose (2.4%). Inulin was high in garlic (13.5%), followed by onion (1.4%) and globus artichoke (0.5%). Minor inulin contents were detected in biscuits (0.2%) and a trace in noodles, white bread and endives. Non-digestible oligosaccharides (NDO) detected in the samples ranged from 12% honey, 3.2% garlic, 3.7% onion, 1.3% globus artichoke and minor amounts in noodle, endive, biscuit and white bread. According to the determined LMWC contents and the current intake of these foods in Spain, the amount of mono- and disaccharide would be 4.3 kg/person/year, while that of inulin plus non-digestible oligosaccharides, 0.4 kg/person/year. Thus, the estimated daily intake of the potential prebiotics inulin plus NDO from the foods selected was 1.1 g/person.

Key Words: low molecular weight carbohydrates • non-digestible oligosaccharides • prebiotics

Food Science and Technology International, Vol. 12, No. 2, 171-175 (2006)
DOI: 10.1177/1082013206063838


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