High pressure treated corn starch as an alternative carrier of molecules of nutritional interest for food systems

Abstract

This chapter describes corn starch as a carrier for bioactive compounds and the modifications in its structure by the high hydrostatic pressure (HHP) technique. The ability of HHP‐treated corn starch to bind and carry zinc and magnesium salts and natural antioxidants of yerba mate (Ilex paraguariensis) extracts is presented as a case study in the chapter. Consumer demand for healthy nutritious foods increased the market for nutraceutical products, which are substances that can potentially promote health and wellness and specifically reduce risk of disease. Starch constitutes the main carbohydrate in the human diet and contributes greatly to the textural properties of many foods. The combination of a low‐cost and widely available material, such as corn starch, with an advanced technology, such as high‐hydrostatic‐pressure processing to increase its molecular binding capacity and modify its performance, can yield a very promising wide‐use carrier material.