Rice bolus texture changes due to α-amylase

During mastication, starch hydrolysis caused by salivary alpha-amylase may influence food bolus formation and subsequent breakdown during gastric digestion. The objective of this study was to examine texture changes of rice boluses after simulated mastication. Boluses were prepared with three varieties each of brown and white rice (short, medium, and long grain). After simulated mastication, rice boluses were incubated from 0 to 180 min at 37 degrees C prior to texture measurement by bulk compression. Saliva was added at concentrations of 0.1 and 0.2 mL saliva/g rice. Boluses were also formed with 0.1 mL/g saliva without alpha-amylase. The peak force and area under the compression curve were significantly influenced by rice type, saliva level, and incubation time (p < 0.0001). The peak force of the boluses decreased, on average, from 127 to 52 N for brown rice and 111 to 54 N for white rice. Changes in bolus texture were described by a linear-exponential model. For all rice types, bolus texture was significantly lower in the presence of alpha-amylase. Saliva amount and presence of alpha-amylase influenced the textural properties of rice boluses during 180 min of incubation. These factors should be carefully considered in future in vitro studies of carbohydrate-based food products. (C) 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.