REVIEW article

Front. Nutr., 20 March 2024

Sec. Nutrition and Food Science Technology

Volume 11 - 2024 | https://doi.org/10.3389/fnut.2024.1369950

Harnessing the power of resistant starch: a narrative review of its health impact and processing challenges

  • 1. Baking Science and Nutrition, Lesaffre Institute of Science and Technology, Lille, France

  • 2. Robin Dessalles EI, Lyon, France

  • 3. Transformations and Agroressources, Institut Polytechnique UniLaSalle, UniversitĆ© d’Artois, Beauvais, France

  • 4. Department of Regulatory Department, University of Lesaffre International, Marcq-en-Baroeul, France

  • 5. Discovery and Front-End Innovation, Lesaffre Institute of Science and Technology, Lille, France

Article metrics

View details

29

Citations

20,8k

Views

3,9k

Downloads

Abstract

Starch is a primary energy storage for plants, making it an essential component of many plant-based foods consumed today. Resistant starch (RS) refers to those starch fractions that escape digestion in the small intestine and reach the colon where they are fermented by the microflora. RS has been repeatedly reported as having benefits on health, but ensuring that its content remains in food processing may be challenging. The present work focuses on the impact RS on health and explores the different processes that may influence its presence in foods, thus potentially interfering with these effects. Clinical evidence published from 2010 to 2023 and studying the effect of RS on health parameters in adult populations, were identified, using PUBMED/Medline and Cochrane databases. The search focused as well on observational studies related to the effect of food processes on RS content. While processes such as milling, fermentation, cooking and heating seem to have a deleterious influence on RS content, other processes, such as cooling, cooking time, storage time, or water content, may positively impact its presence. Regarding the influence on health parameters, there is a body of evidence suggesting an overall significant beneficial effect of RS, especially type 1 and 2, on several health parameters such as glycemic response, insulin resistance index, bowel function or inflammatory markers. Effects are more substantiated in individuals suffering from metabolic diseases. The effects of RS may however be exerted differently depending on the type. A better understanding of the influence of food processes on RS can guide the development of dietary intake recommendations and contribute to the development of food products rich in RS.

Introduction

Carbohydrates (CHO) are fundamental components of human nutrition, serving as the primary source of energy in most diets. Additionally, they play a significant role in human health through their influence on glucose homeostasis via their metabolism in the gastrointestinal tract. Carbohydrates are abundantly found in cereals, fruits, vegetables and legumes. Among them, starch is the most abundant digestible polysaccharide in human diets, playing a crucial role in numerous plant-based foods such as wheat, maize, rice, rye, potato or peas (1, 2). Starches are classified based on their digestion rates into three major categories: rapidly digestible starch (RDS), slowly digestible starch (SDS) and resistant starch (RS). RDS and SDS are both fully digested in the small intestine, though at different rates: within 20 min for the former versus 120 min for the latter (3–5). In contrast, RS mostly escapes digestion in the small intestine and is fermented in the colon by microorganisms, producing short-chain fatty acids (SCFA) (3, 4, 6). This metabolic pathway looks like that of dietary fibers, plant components, originally defined as ā€œportion of food which is derived from cellular walls of plants which are digested very poorly by human beings.ā€ This led to an expansion of the definition to encompass RS along with other compounds such as resistant oligosaccharides or hydrocolloids (7). Dietary fibers have long been recognized as an important component of a healthy diet and are emphasized in dietary guidelines worldwide. For example, a daily intake of at least 25 grams per day is recommended in Europe to reduce the risk of chronic diseases (1). However, actual intake of dietary fibers in Europe varies significantly across countries, and often falls short of these recommendations. Reports indicate an average intake of 12.5 g/d in Spain, 17 g/d per day in Belgium, 20 g/d in France, Sweden, and the Netherlands, 21 g/d in Austria and Finland, with only Norway and Germany approaching the recommended 25 g/d (8). In the United States, it was estimated that only 7.4% of adults reached the recommended intake of 14 g/1000 kcal (9). In Australia, a typical diet provides 4 times less than the 15–20 g/day recommended for supporting bowel health (10). More limited data are available regarding RS consumption. Global intake is estimated to be between 3 and 10 g per day. In Europe, intake ranges from approximately 3 to 6 g/d, while in China, it is about 15 g/d, mainly from wheat and rice products. In Africa, intake can be as high as 20–30 g/d (11).

Apart from its contribution to fiber intake, increasing the RS content in foods may be an opportunity to promote health since starch microstructure manipulation may modulate health parameters such as those related to metabolic response. However, the influence of food processing on RS content appears as a key determinant in this respect.

In the present work, we aim to describe the influence of various food processes on RS content, and to review clinical evidence related to the effects of RS on health, in order to highlight the barriers and knowledge gaps that remains to be addressed before developing public health strategies.

Methods

To compile this narrative review, a comprehensive literature search was conducted on 3 scientific databases: Medline, COCHRANE, and The Lens. The focus was on articles examining the health benefits of RS and the dietary processes that may influence its content in foods were searched. The keyword ā€œresistant starchā€ was combined with others, related to health conditions, as follows: ā€œresistant starchā€ AND (ā€œglycemic responseā€ OR ā€œglycaemic responseā€ OR diabetes OR diabetics OR metabolic OR overweight OR obese OR glucose OR insulin OR lipids OR inflammation OR microbiota OR microflora OR gastrointestinal OR oxidative OR antioxidant). Searches with keywords related to food processes were performed in parallel: ā€œresistant starchā€ AND (cooking OR cooling OR milling OR storage OR heating OR breeding OR microwave). The retrieved records were screened by reviewers, and studies were selected based on title, abstract and keywords, according to the following eligibility criteria: peer-review publications in English, published in the last 20 years, either randomized controlled trials, systematic reviews, meta-analyses or observational trials, conducted in the general adult population. Studies conducted on tertiary-care patients, such as those suffering from cancer or undergoing hemodialysis were excluded. Cross-reference searches were performed during the selection and reviewing processes. Following selection by the authors, full-text articles were retrieved and analyzed.

Types of resistant starch and their properties

RS is usually listed in five categories (see Table 1). Resistant starch type 1 (RS1) is physically entrapped, non-accessible, in a non-digestible matrix such as whole grains (intact cells) due to wall barrier. This starch is heat-stable and does not break during cooking, but it does during milling. It is commonly found in products such as whole bread, seeds or legumes. Resistant starch type 2 (RS2), is a native granular RS found in raw potatoes or green bananas. Its crystalline organization protects it from digestive enzymes. RS2 has been widely investigated in clinical trials, notably through the use of HI-MAIZEĀ® 260 (Ingredion United Kingdom, Ltd) as an additive to the test products. Resistant starch type 3 (RS3) is also known ā€œretrograded starchā€ which results from the formation of double helixes by long-branch chains of amylopectin following the cooling of foods cooked in the presence of moisture. It cannot be hydrolysed by digestive enzymes. Resistant starch type 4 (RS4) is a chemically-modified starch engineered to resist to enzymatic digestion. As well as RS2, it can be added to foods as an ingredient. Products containing RS4 might be derived from sources such as potato, high-amylose maize, or tapioca starches (VERSAFIBEā„¢ 1,490, VERSAFIBEā„¢ 2,470 or NOVELOSEĀ®3,490, respectively) (6). Initially, a fifth class of resistant starch (RS5) was established to characterize cases where RS is modified and form starch-lipid complexes with resistant properties. However, recent evidence has described the generation of starch complexes that involve other molecules, such as amino acids, peptides, polysaccharides or polyphenols, and have a similar structure to starch-lipid complexes. Therefore, an update of the ā€œRS5ā€ category has been suggested to include these new complexes as well (14, 15).

Table 1

Type of RSDescriptionFood sourcesDigestion in small intestine
RS 1Non-accessible, physically entrappedWhole or partly milled grains, seeds or legumesSlow rate; partial degree; totally digested if properly milled
RS 2Ungelatinized resistant granulesRaw potatoes, green bananas, some legumes, high-amylose corn, specific ingredients (e.g., HI-MAIZEĀ® 260)Very slow rate; little degree; totally digested when freshly cooked
RS 3Retrograded starchCooked and cooled potatoes, bread, cornflakes, food products with repeated moist heat treatmentSlow rate; partial degree; reversible digestion; digestibility improved by reheating
RS 4Chemically modified starches due to cross-linking with chemical reagentsFoods in which modified starches have been used (e.g., breads, cakes). Example of ingredients: VERSAFIBE™ 1,490, VERSAFIBE™ 2,470, NOVELOSE®3,490Result of chemical modification; can resist hydrolysis
RS 5Amylose-lipid complexesFoods with high amylose contentCan resist enzymatic digestion

Characteristics of resistant starch fractions (5, 12, 13).

Effects of food processing on resistant starch content

The preservation of starch’s crystalline structure is crucial for maintaining low digestibility to maximize their nutritional properties (low glycaemia index, satietogenic properties ….). Some foods, such as unriped bananas and uncooked oats, are naturally rich in RS. However, various factors may alter this content in one direction or another (16). These factors may be encountered at an early stage (e.g., arising from varietal selection), or later as a result of the physical treatments occurring in various steps of food processing, from milling to food storage (17).

Varietal differences and breeding techniques

Developing crops with a modified amylose-to-amylopectin ratio can enhance RS levels in foods. Higher amylose content promotes the retrogradation after cooking, thus regenerating RS. This is because amylose has a smaller and more flexible structure due to its linearity, making it easier to regenerate compared to amylopectin (17–20). Several studies have demonstrated that using a wheat cultivar with elevated amylose content significantly increases the final RS content in bread, compared to a conventional cultivar (18, 21–23). This elevated content seems to translate into health benefits, as the production of high-amylose rice (24), noodles (25), or wheat (26) positively impacted postprandial glycemia in several randomized controlled trials. However, it is worth noting that, using specific high-amylose cultivars may negatively impact the characteristics of dough and bread (27).

Milling

Milling disrupts the crystalline structure of starch, increasing its exposure to enzymatic degradation and leading to a significant loss of RS. Compared to whole grains, cereal flours, especially wheat, are typically lower in RS (12, 28, 29). Coarse milling or selecting larger particles after fractionation could attenuate this loss (19), though other production steps also significantly affect RS content (18). Additionally, whole grain products are more likely to contain RS1, as starch is encapsulated within a plant structure (28).

Cooking/heating

Cooking has a major influence on both starch organization and its level in foods. At or above a defined temperature called the ā€œgelatinization temperatureā€ (GT), and in the presence of sufficient water, the crystalline structure of the starch granule is disrupted, making starch resistant (both RS1 and RS2) more digestible. However, during cooling, starch polymers (mostly amylose), tend to reassociate, forming packed structures which remain unavailable for enzymatic hydrolysis. This process is called retrogradation (29, 30).

This new fraction, retrograded starch (RS3), is the main form of RS in processed foods (22) and the major contributor to RS intake (13).

Microwave cooking, through dielectric heating and electromagnetic effects, generally leads to retrogradation (31). Microwave reheating of rice, regardless of water content, increase RS while reducing digestible starch fractions (32, 33). This effect seems to extend to other foods such as potatoes (34). Cooking wheat noodles in a microwave was found more effective than boiling or steaming in preserving RS and lowering glycemic index (35). In a meta-analysis of 31 articles investigating the effect of microwave treatment on starch content of high-carbohydrate foods, Isra et al. highlighted that this method of cooking significantly increased the level of RS, whatever the food matrix [2.755% (95% CI: 2.106 to 3.403); p < 0.001]. Moreover, RS enrichment resulted in enhanced prebiotic properties, based on several parameters, namely starch composition, amylose interaction, lactic acid bacteria viability, and enteropathogenic Escherichia coli viability (36).

Control over starch-to-moisture ratio, temperature, and heating time can significantly alter the resulting starch levels (37). For example, heat-moisture treatment (HMT) and annealing are two hydrothermal treatments commonly used to alter starch properties (38). HMT consists in heating the starch granule at high temperature (ranging from 84 to 140°C) while maintaining low moisture (10 to 35%) for specific period of time, in order to prevent gelatinization. Studies assessing the effects of different HMT treatments on starch characteristics have been extensively reviewed (38). Recently, progressive increase in temperature during HMT has been shown to reduce the digestibility of sweet potato starch by decreasing RDS and increasing RS fractions, with optimum conditions at 110°C, 25% moisture for 4 h (39). Similar results were observed in rice starch (40, 41), and starch from other foods under various conditions (38). Subjecting barley to HMT has been reported to improve glycemic response and to promote the growth of SCFA-producing bacteria in rats (42). Overall, the ability to modify starch swelling capacity, crystallinity, gelatinization or retrogradation, digestibility through HMT gives an indication of its potential to impact metabolic response to foods and thus, its benefits on health.

Modifications of RS crystallinity and organization may also be obtained through the treatment of starch with excess water and limited temperature, using a process called annealing. Typical treatment conditions are around 50°C temperature for 24 h or more (38). However, the ability of annealing to modify the characteristics of starch seems dependent on the botanical source: Zheng et al. recently evidenced increased crystallinity of maize and potato starch with increasing time of annealing treatment, while the effect on pea starch was limited. An increase in RS together with a decrease in RDS were noted after potato starch treatment, while no such changes were observed in the case of maize or pea starch (43). In another study, a decreased in proso millet starch digestibility was observed after annealing without modifications of the crystallinity (44). Annealing was found to raise RS content of cornstarch by almost 9-fold, and was shown to be more effective in this respect than HMT, autoclaving or microwave treatments (45). Therefore, the use of annealing to enhance starch functional properties needs cautious selection of the appropriate conditions and substrate.

Autoclaving (i.e., high temperature, high-pressure treatment) is also known to induce RS3 formation, especially when coupled to cooling (4). Based on a meta-analysis of 10 studies, Faridah et al. highlighted that the effect of autoclaving-cooling treatment was dependent on the food source, the water ratio, as well as treatment time and temperature. Thus, using corn, oat or rice as food source, having a starch-to-water ratio of 1:4 and performing two cycles of autoclaving-cooling for 30 min of autoclaving at 121°C were the conditions allowing maximization of the RS content (46).

Long and low-temperature bread baking (e.g., pumpernickel conditions: 20 h, 120°C), significantly increases RS content compared to standard baking (45 min at 200°C) (18, 21–23). For instance, white wheat bread baked at 120°C for 4 h, and another at 150°C for 3 h, showed, respectively, a 24% (1.46 g/100 g) and 15% (1.36 g/100 g) increase in RS content, compared to the same bread baked for 30 min at 200°C (1.18 g/100 g) (30).

Cooling/storage

Storage conditions, particularly cooling after cooking, play key role for the RS content in foods. Cooling after cooking is a crucial step during which starch retrogrades, partially restoring its crystallinity (17, 28). In a study, freshly baked bread was stored at ambient (20°C), frozen (āˆ’ 17°C) or refrigerated (3.5°C) temperatures for 7 days; authors reported that the RS content was significantly increased in the refrigerated bread compared to the other storage conditions (47). Cooling white rice for 24 h at 4°C before reheating resulted in a higher RS content of 1.65 g/100 g compared to the rice cooled at ambient temperature for 10 h. In addition, the glycemic response was significantly reduced compared to freshly cooked white rice in healthy individuals (48). Similar preparation conditions also showed a significant reduction of postprandial glycemia in type 1 diabetics compared to rice served immediately after cooking (49). Another study noted that the impact of refrigeration on RS content differs depending on the rice variety. Maximization of RS content was attained when long-grain rice was prepared using a rice cooker and then refrigerated for 3 days at 4°C (2.55 g RS per 100 g). In contrast, short-grain rice prepared in a pressure cooker and similarly refrigerated showed the lowest RS dose among the tested combinations (0.20 g RS/100 g rice) (50). The influence of storage time and temperature on RS content appears to be food-specific: RS content in noodles was maximized when microwave-heated and stored for 48 h at room temperature (51).

One study highlighted a steady increase in RS content in sourdough teff breads over 5 days of storage, with retrogradation was evidenced by a concomitant decrease of RDS (52). The effect of storage time on RS content, regardless of temperature, has been observed in wheat bread as well (30). Interestingly, the rate of starch recrystallization during storage varies among cereals. For instance, rye sourdough bread exhibits a slower crystallization rate than wheat bread (53).

Fermentation conditions

Several studies reported an effect of fermentation conditions on the RS content of foods.

One study found that sourdough bread, regardless of flour type (whole or white wheat), had a significantly higher RS content compared to yeast bread. Furthermore, at the same fermentation temperature, using type-2 sourdough fermentation using indigenous strains (Lactobacillus brevis ELB99, Lactiplantibacillus plantarum ELB75, and Saccharomyces cerevisiae TGM55) yielded higher RS content in bread compared to type-1 (spontaneous) fermentation. In white wheat bread, lower fermentation temperature (25°C vs. 30°C) also increased the RS content of bread, whatever the fermentation type. In whole wheat bread, this was the case only for type-1 fermentation (54). In contrast, another study did not find any significant impact of sourdough addition on the RS in white flour (30). In the case of Teff bread, Shumoy et al. reported that the RS content increased with the proportion of incorporated sourdough (52).

In experiments involving barley malt production, Teixeira et al. highlighted that the increase in RS was correlated to the barley variety used, particularly its amylose content. Specifically, steeping with 0.4% lactic acid in Tipple, regardless of the temperature used, was shown to enhance RS content (55).

Impact of resistant starch on health based on a clinical perspective

The effects of RS on health have been widely investigated in the past decades. For this review, a total of 14 meta-analyses compiling data from these studies were retrieved (56–70). These meta-analyses vary in their focus on different types of RS and target populations. The following sections will review and summarize the impact of RS on different health parameters. Characteristics of the meta-analyses are detailed in Table 2.

Table 2

Studies characteristicsResults
ReferenceNb of studiesTypeDesignTotal nb of subjectsTarget populationInterventionControlRS dose range (g/d)Study duration range (weeks)RS typeOutcomes
(59)14RCT// or CO515T2DM or obesity w/o T2DMRS supplementationnon-RS supplementation4–64–52Anyfasting insulin, fasting glucose, BMI and HOMA-IR;↓ FPG in T2DM + OB; ↓ FPI in T2DM + OB; = FPI in T2DM; = BMI in T2DM; ↓ HOMA-IR in T2DM + OB; = HOMA-IR in T2DM
(61)19RCT// or CO1,014AnyRS supp or interventionintake of digestible starches or other CHOs8–343–48Any (mostly RS2)glycemic status, serum lipoproteins and inflammatory markers↓ FPG; ↓ FPI; = HOMA-IR; ↓ HbA1c; ↓TC; ↓ LDL; = HDL; = TAG; = IL-6; ↓ TNF-α; = CRP
(64)31RCTAny982T2DM or prediabetes; no other chronic conditionsResistant starch type 1–5, starch-containing foodsStarch ot other carbohydrates1–450–52AnyMarkers of glycemia↓ PPG; = PPI; ↓ FPG; ↓ FPI
(66)22RCTAny670Healthy or MetS or T2DMResistant starch type 2Any8–661–12RS2 (mostly high amylose maize starch)fasting blood glucose, glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c), insulin resistance, appetite/satiety levels, lipid levels or body weight= FPG, ↓ body weight; = HOMA-IR; = HbA1c; = TC; = LDL; = HDL; = TAG
(70)15RCTAny503Anyresistant starch supplementation (excluding type 1)Any5,1–662–12Any (mostly RS2)blood glucose or insulin↓ FPG; = FPI; = HbA1c;
(68)13RCTAny428Overweight / ObesityRSAny10–452–12Anyfasting glucose or fasting insulin or plasma lipid or insulin sensitivity or insulin resistance↓ FPG; ↓ FPI; = HOMA-IR; ↓ HbA1c; = TC; ↓ LDL; = HDL; = TAG
(71)14RCTAny820Adults, healthy or not,no lipid-lowering medicationRSplacebo without the functions of DF or diets low in resistant starch10–662–52Any (mostly RS2)TC, LDL-C, TGs, HDL↓ TC; ↓ LDL; = HDL; =TAG
(60)8RCTAny308Any but inflammatory diseasesRS2Placebo10–454–12RS2 (Hi-maize 260)IL-6, hs-CRP, TNF-a as outcomes= IL-6; = TNF-α; = CRP
(63)16RCTAny706AnyRS aloneAny6–274–12RS2Inflammatory or oxidative stress biomarkers↓ IL-6 in non-T2DM; ↓ TNF-α in non-T2DM; ↓ CRP in T2DM; = uric acid; ↑ TAC; ↑ SOD; ↓ MDA
(67)13RCTAny672Adults, healthy or notResistant Starch (ā€œresistant maltodextrin,ā€ ā€œresistant dextrin,ā€ ā€œindigestible starch,ā€ ā€œhigh amylose starchā€)Any but RS10–454–14Any (mostly RS2)IL-6, CRP, hs-CRP and TNF-α↓ IL-6; ↓ TNF-α; = CRP
(69)16RCTAny739AdultsRSAnyAny2–12AnyIL-6, CRP, hs-CRP and TNF-α↓ IL-6; ↓ TNF-α; = CRP; ↑ TAC; = SOD; = MDA
(65)9RCTAny193Healthy adultsRSAny22–45 (avg 33)1–4RS2, RS3 and RS4butyrate concentration, defecate frequency, fecal wet weight, fecal PH↑ stool volume; = stool frequency; ↑ butyrate levels; ↓ fecal pH
(57)7AnyAny248AnyRSBaselineAnyNAAnymicrobial diversity, bacterial counts↓ gut microbial α-diversity; ↑ counts of Ruminococcus, Agathobacter, Faecalibacterium and Bifidobacterium
(72)29RCTSB or DB1,208Healthy adultsRMDAny w/o RMD3,8-13,51–3RMDstool frequency and stool volume↑ stool volume; ↑ stool frequency
(73)20RCTAnyColorectal cancer, familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP), Lynch syndrome (LS), sporadic adenoma (SA) and healthy subjectsRS/inulin with or without other drugsDigestible carbohydrate or low-dose NDC10–604–116AnySCFA production= SCFAs; = butyrate

Characteristics of included meta-analyses.

BMI, body mass index; CRP, c-reactive protein; FPG, fasting plasma glucose; FPI, fasting plasma insulin; GIP, glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide; GLP-1, glucagon-like peptide 1; HbA1c, glycated hemoglobin; HDL, high-density lipoproteins cholesterol; HOMA-IR, homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance; IL-6, interleukin 6; LDL, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol; MDA, malondialdehyde; PPG, postprandial glucose; PPI, postprandial insulin; SOD, superoxide dismutase; TAC, total antioxidant capacity; TAG, triacylglycerol; TC, total cholesterol; TNF-α, tumor necrosis factor alpha; ↓: significantly decreased vs. control; ↑ significantly increased vs control.

Resistant starch and gastrointestinal outcomes (stools characteristics, microbiota and short-chain fatty acids)

RS has been reported to impact gastrointestinal outcomes, from microbiota population counts and activity, to stools characteristics.

A meta-analysis included 9 randomized controlled trials administering RS at doses varying from 22 g/day to 45 g/day (average 33 g/day) to healthy subjects. Control groups typically followed low-RS diets. The pooled analysis revealed significant improvements in fecal weight, butyrate levels, and fecal pH following RS supplementation, compared to the control. Conversely, defecation frequency was not significantly changed (65).

In another meta-analysis (72) a significant increase in stool volume and frequency compared to the control was found based on a pooled analysis of 29 randomized controlled trials administering resistant maltodextrin (RMD) from 3.8 to 13.5 g daily to healthy individuals.

Regarding studies focusing on bacterial counts in human gut microbiota, pooled data from 7 studies involving 248 individuals revealed an association between RS consumption and an increased abundance of Ruminococcus, Agathobacter, Faecalibacterium and Bifidobacterium. RS appeared to impact mechanisms related to carbohydrate and lipid metabolism. Notably, different RS types were found to alter differently microbiome responses (57).

Focusing on gut microbiota activity, one meta-analysis reported no significant changes in total SCFAs or butyrate concentration following RS intervention, based on data from 4 and 3 studies, respectively. Similarly, total SCFAs and butyrate excretion were unchanged in the intervention group (RS2 or inulin) compared to control (placebo or digestible CHO), based on data from 5 and 3 studies, respectively. The same study also assessed the potential of non-digestible fibers in reducing the risk of colorectal cancer, but the evidence reviewed did not support this hypothesis (73).

Resistant starch and metabolic response (glucose, insulin)

RS may dampen glycemic and insulin responses by delaying the absorption of food boluses. This topic has been the subject of extensive research in recent years, as evidenced by 7 meta-analyses published between 2018 and 2023.

Most recently, RS was found to significantly reduce postprandial glucose following both acute [āˆ’0.65 (95% CI: āˆ’0.98, āˆ’0.32); p < 0.0001; 14 studies] and chronic [āˆ’0.31 (95% CI: āˆ’0.50, āˆ’0.13), p = 0.001; 7 studies] intake. Chronic intake of RS also led to a significant reduction in fasting blood glucose [āˆ’0.31 (95% CI: āˆ’0.51, āˆ’0.11); p = 0.002; 14 studies], with doses used in studies ranging from 6 to 40 g/d. Interestingly, both RS1 and RS2, but not RS3 achieved this reduction. For fasting blood glucose, significant results were observed only with chronic intake of RS2. Focusing on the target population, the authors noted that the acute postprandial glycemic response was significantly reduced in both prediabetics and type-2 diabetics, but the chronic response was effective only in diabetics subjects. Other metabolic markers such as glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1), glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP), and insulin sensitivity (HOMA-IR) remained unaffected by RS (64).

In another paper (70), results from a pooled analysis showed significant improvements in fasting plasma glucose (FPG) [āˆ’0.09 (95% CI –0.13, āˆ’0.04) mmol/l; p = 0.001; 16 trials] and insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) [āˆ’0.33 (95% CI –0.51, āˆ’0.14); p = 0.001; 3 trials], in 503 individuals, healthy or not, receiving RS (except type 1) compared to unsupplemented control food. However, no significant effects of RS were observed on other parameters such as fasting plasma insulin, glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) or insulin sensitivity; of note, high heterogeneity between studies was observed for these outcomes. Higher doses of RS (≄ 26 g/d) compared to a lower dose (< 26 g/d) appeared more effective on FPG, as well as longer intervention duration (≄ 8 weeks vs. < 8 weeks). The effect was more pronounced in overweight subjects or those at risk of having diabetes, compared to healthy or diabetic subjects.

Aggregating data from 19 randomized controlled trials involving 1,014 individuals at risk of metabolic diseases (e.g., type 2 diabetics, prediabetics, overweight or dyslipidemic subjects) resulted in significant reductions in fasting plasma glucose [āˆ’4.28 (95% CI: āˆ’7.01, āˆ’1.55); p = 0.000; 14 studies], insulin [āˆ’1.95 (95% CI: āˆ’3.22, āˆ’0.68); p = 0.000; 12 studies] and HbA1c [āˆ’0.60 (95% CI: āˆ’0.95, āˆ’0.24); p = 0.000; 8 studies] due to RS interventions compared to digestible starches, other carbohydrates or other fibers. However, insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) was not significantly impacted (10 studies). Fasting plasma glucose or insulin resistance were significantly impacted in subjects with metabolic or renal diseases but not in at-risk subjects. Of note, using maize as a RS source appeared to not significantly affect FPG (61).

Gao et al. included 14 articles with a total of 515 subjects in their meta-analysis. Individuals presented obesity (6 studies) or had type-2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) (6 studies) or without (2 studies) obesity. The studies included all forms of RS, and control typically consuming unfermented digestible carbohydrates. No significant effects of RS supplementation on either body mass index (BMI) or fasting plasma glucose were found after pooling 8 and 11 studies, respectively. However, a significant reduction was noted in patients with T2DM and obesity [āˆ’0.19 (95% CI: āˆ’0.29, āˆ’0.10); p < 0.0001; 5 studies]. Fasting plasma insulin was significantly lower in the RS supplementation group compared to the controls [āˆ’2.07 (95% CI: āˆ’3.25, āˆ’0.89); p < 0.0006; 8 studies], albeit with high heterogeneity (I2 = 84%). A more significant reduction was observed in the subgroup receiving 10 g/d of RS versus 30–40 g/d. Insulin sensitivity (HOMA-IR) was significantly reduced versus control only in the subgroup with T2DM [āˆ’0.71 (95% CI: āˆ’1.23, āˆ’0.20); p < 0.007; 4 studies], and that of T2DM with obesity [āˆ’0.91 (95% CI: āˆ’1.36, āˆ’0.45); p < 0.0001; 8 studies] (59).

In another meta-analysis, the investigators focused on 20 studies (670 participants) administering RS from high amylose maize starch (type 2) at doses ≄8 g per day (66). Participants included healthy individuals, as well as those overweight/obese, or with metabolic syndrome or type-2 diabetes mellitus. No significant effect of RS against placebo was reported on fasting plasma glucose, based on 15 studies. Subgroup analyses by health status did not reveal any significant changes. Similarly, HbA1c and HOMA-IR appeared unaffected by RS compared to placebo. However, body weight was significantly reduced compared to control [āˆ’1.19 (95% CI: āˆ’2.27, āˆ’0.12); p < 0.03; 6 studies], with subgroup analysis indicating this effect was heavily influenced by studies focusing on type-2 diabetics.

Finally, Wang et al. reported that RS administered at doses ranging from 10 to 45 g per day to 428 overweight or obese participants from 13 randomized controlled trials significantly reduced fasting plasma glucose [āˆ’0.26 (95% CI: āˆ’0.5, āˆ’0.02); p = 0.035; 12 trials], insulin [āˆ’0.72 (95% CI: āˆ’1.13 to āˆ’0.31); p = 0.001; 10 trials], and glycated hemoglobin [āˆ’0.43 (95% CI: āˆ’0.74, āˆ’0.13); p = 0.005; 4 trials] compared to control, in both diabetic and non-diabetic subjects. However, no significant changes were reported for HOMA-IR (68).

Resistant starch and lipoproteins response

A meta-analysis specifically examined the effects of RS on blood lipids through randomized controlled trials. This pooled analysis included 14 studies with a total of 820 participants, both healthy or others, who were administered RS (mostly of type 2) at a dose ranging from 10 to 66 g per day. The authors reported significant decreases serum total cholesterol [āˆ’7.33 mg/dL (95% CI: āˆ’12.15, āˆ’2.52 mg/dL); 19 trials] and Low-Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol (LDL-C) [āˆ’3.40 mg/dL (95% CI: āˆ’6.74, āˆ’0.07 mg/dL); 16 trials] compared to control. Serum triglycerides and High-Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol (HDL-C), however, remained unaffected. The authors noted that longer RS supplementation periods (>4 weeks) had a more significant impact on total cholesterol and LDL-C levels. A higher dose (>20 g/d) of RS also appeared to lower triglyceride levels (71).

Other meta-analyses, initially focusing on glycemic response, also reported findings on lipoproteins. One such meta-analysis reported that RS significantly reduced serum total cholesterol [āˆ’8.19 (95% CI: āˆ’15.38, āˆ’1.00); 13 trials] and LDL-C [āˆ’8.57 (95% CI: āˆ’13.48, āˆ’3.66); 10 trials] while HDL-cholesterol and triglycerides remained unaffected compared to control (61). Snelson and colleagues, however, did not observe a significant effect of RS on blood lipoproteins (66), while another meta-analysis reported a significant reduction LDL-C levels [āˆ’0.35 (95% CI: āˆ’0.61 to āˆ’0.09; p = 0.008; 6 trials)] (68).

Resistant starch and inflammatory response

A total of 3 papers reporting the impact of RS on inflammatory mediators were retrieved by the present review.

One pooled result from 16 trials, primarily using RS2 (13 out of the 16 studies). The RS dose ranged from 6 g/d to 27 g/d, with controls being digestible cornstarch, manioc or maltodextrin. Subjects included those with type-2 diabetes, end-stage renal disease, chronic kidney disease, or at risk of having diabetes, along with two trials involving healthy participants. Significant improvements were observed in total antioxidant capacity [2.64 (95% CI: 0.34, 4.94); p = 0.03; 3 trials], and blood malondialdehyde [āˆ’0.55 (95% CI: āˆ’0.94, āˆ’0.17); p = 0.01;6 trials] in the intervention groups vs. control. Regarding inflammatory biomarkers, a significant reduction in blood C-reactive protein was observed in individuals with T2DM [āˆ’0.35 (95% CI: āˆ’0.65, āˆ’0.05); p = 0.02; 3 trials], but not in other subjects. Similarly, interleukin-6 [āˆ’0.90 (95% CI: āˆ’1.36, āˆ’0.45); p < 0.01; 3 trials] and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) [āˆ’0.55 (95% CI: āˆ’1.02, āˆ’0.09); p = 0.02; 4 trials] levels were significantly reduced compared to control. Others parameters were not significantly altered between intervention and control groups (63).

Haghighatdoost et al. performed a meta-analysis of 8 randomized controlled trials (RCTs) including a total of 308 individuals. Four studies included individuals with renal disease, 3 with diabetes, prediabetes, or diabetes risk factors, and one study focused on overweight or obese individuals. Included studies investigated RS2, more specifically high amylose maize RS (ā€œHi-maizeĀ® 260ā€). Control food was mostly waxy corn starch, manioc or regular wheat flour. No significant effect of RS2 on hs-CRP or IL-6 could be observed based on a meta-analysis of 7 and 4 studies, respectively. Finally, a small but significant decrease in TNF-α levels following RS consumption was noted compared to control, [āˆ’0.003 pg./mL (95% CI: āˆ’0.004, āˆ’0.001); p < 0.0001; 4 trials], though with significant heterogeneity (I2 = 98.0%). The authors noted that the effect of RS on CRP was significantly more pronounced when considering studies using an intervention dose above 20 g/d compared to less than 20 g/d. Similar observations were made for overweight compared to normal-weight individuals and for studies with an intervention period of 6 weeks or more, compared to a shorter period. Overall, the authors concluded that RS failed to significantly reduce inflammatory mediators (60).

According to another meta-analysis, only TNF-α was significantly reduced following RS administration compared to control [āˆ’2.02 (95% CI: āˆ’3.14, āˆ’0.90); 5 trials] (61).

Pooling results from a total of 13 randomized controlled trial involving 672 subjects overall, Vahdat et al. evidenced that RS administered to individuals at doses ranging from 10 to 45 g per day did reduce significantly inflammatory biomarkers such as IL-6 [āˆ’1.11 (95% CI: āˆ’1.72, āˆ’0.50); 7 trials] or TNF-α [āˆ’2.19 (95% CI: āˆ’3.49, āˆ’0.90); 8 trials], though not CRP, whatever the subjects’ conditions (healthy, healthy overweight, type-2 diabetics, hemodialytics) (67).

Finally, it was reported in a pooled analysis of 16 randomized controlled trials, including a total of 739 individuals, that RS intake decreased significantly TNF-α [āˆ’0.711 (95% CI: āˆ’1.227, āˆ’0.194); p = 0.007] and IL-6 [SMD: āˆ’0.609 (95% CI: āˆ’0.924, āˆ’0.294); p < 0.001]. A significant increase in total antioxidant capacity (TAC) was also reported in the RS intervention group versus control [2.543 (95% CI: 0.069: 5.017); p = 0.044)]. No significant changes on other parameters were noted, except for CRP levels that were significantly reduced, though only in the subgroup of diseased subjects (69).

Discussion

The available evidence, as summarized in this narrative review, suggests that RS may have a positive impact on health parameters related to glycemic control in individuals with impaired metabolic control. However, consensus has not been firmly established for the general population or for other outcomes such as inflammatory response or variations in lipoproteins. Notably, the meta-analyses included in this review mostly considered RS as a whole, and did not allow comparisons of RS types. Nonetheless, Pugh et al., in their subgroup analyses, highlighted that significant effects on glycemic response were primarily observed with RS1 and RS2 but not with RS3. This observation can be attributed to the fact that RS1 and RS2 received more extensive research attention across the scientific literature, whereas the analysis of RS3 was based on only two studies (64). A limited number of clinical trials also focused on RS4. For instance, in a randomized controlled trial involving 38 healthy adults, Gourineni et al. reported that a RS4 nutritional bar significantly decreased postprandial glucose compared with a control bar (74). Similar conclusions were drawn in another study comparing a RS4 muffin with a control muffin in 28 healthy individuals (75), while mixed results were reported in another study (76). Additionally, increased short-term satiety was reported after consumption of a RS4 scone compared to a standard scone (77). Interestingly, Cai et al. highlighted that factors such as a high amylose content, less-gelatinized starch, the presence of retrograded starch, and the maintenance of a larger particle size were significant determinants of an attenuated glycemic and insulinemic response in healthy individuals (78).

Overall, the benefits of the different types of RS are likely exerted through different pathways (64), as demonstrated by the varying microbiota responses to different types of RS. For instance, after 12 weeks of consuming 12 g of RS4 daily, a significant decrease in bile acid in stools were reported compared to control (79). In an in vitro study, both RS2 and RS4 in rice sticks led to significantly higher counts of Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus compared to the control food under pH-controlled batch culture conditions. While the bifidogenic effect of RS2 seemed stronger with RS2, Lactobacillus counts were maintained longer with RS4. Of note, selective suppression of Clostridium was shown with RS4, while RS2 seemed to target Bacteroides. Moreover, both RS2 and RS4 significantly increased production of total SCFA and butyric acid compared to the control, though the concentration was highest with RS2 after 24 h fermentation (80). Another study by Li et al. also investigated the human microbiota response to RS2 (Hi MaizeĀ® 260), RS3 (NoveloseĀ® 330) and RS4 (FibersymĀ® RW) through in vitro culture and metaproteomic, and reported that responses seemed highly dependent on the individual microbiome characteristics. Nonetheless, a shift in microbiome response was highlighted following RS2 and RS3 culture. Both types had similar abilities to increase butyrate-producing bacteria, possibly because both products originated from high-amylose maize, according to the authors. RS3 significantly increased protein production of Bifidobacteriaceae and Ruminococcaceae (81). It is worth noting that this significant inter-individual variation in microbiota response to RS has already been reported (82). Among the different types of RS, RS5 has evolved and is still under investigation. Complexation of RS with lipids has the potential to present high resistance to enzymatic hydrolysis, and more stability than RS3 (83). RS5 has also potential as a functional ingredient as replacement of fat in white pan bread was shown to reduce bread energy value and delay retrogradation while maintaining acceptable bread characteristics (40). Accordingly, rice starch-lipid complex has been shown to improve body weight, dyslipidemia and SCFAs production in obese rats (84), and to dampen glycemic response in mice (85). Furthermore, the recent developments related to the classification of RS5, and the extension of possible complexes with other components than lipids raises the potential of RS5 has a health promoting ingredient. Owing to their V-type crystalline structure, most RS5 complexes presents high resistance to digestion, though to various extents depending on the non-starch component (14). Wheat starch complexation with gluten or with pea protein hydrolysates was reported to hinder α-amylase activity (86, 87). A complex of rice starch with xanthan gum and locust bean gum undergoing HMT was shown to significantly raise RS content (88). Research continues on the identification of starch complex components that would present the best characteristics to constitute a health-promoting ingredient.

Overall, the complexity of establishing whether RS confers health benefits arise from both the variability in inter-individual response and the different metabolic pathways affected by the different RS types. Furthermore, different modifications of starch structures during food processing or physical treatments also impact physiological response differently. From most of the studies presented in this review, none really correlated RS effects on health to the food process used.

Despite all these variables, the documented benefits of RS on health cannot be dismissed. The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) established that ā€œhealth claims related to the benefits of RS on postprandial glycemic response may be made when digestible starch in a given food has been replaced by RS so that the final content of RS is at least 14% of total starchā€ (89). While much of the evidence belong to RS2 from high amylose maize, the EFSA considered that all sources of RS would achieve a similar effect, as it would consist in replacing digestible CHO by indigestible CHO.

In conclusion, according to the current state of the literature, the relationship between RS and health appears to be multifaceted, with different RS types exerting distinct effects. Further research is needed to comprehensively characterize the specific properties and mechanisms of action of various RS forms.

Statements

Author contributions

NTB: Visualization, Writing – review & editing. RD: Conceptualization, Investigation, Writing – original draft, Writing – review & editing, Data curation, Methodology. A-KI: Writing – review & editing, Methodology. PV: Writing – review & editing. LR: Writing – review & editing. PA: Writing – review & editing. MD-D: Conceptualization, Funding acquisition, Supervision, Visualization, Writing – original draft, Writing – review & editing.

Funding

The author(s) declare that financial support was received for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article. This work was supported partly by Lesaffre Institute of Research and Technology at Lesaffre International (Marcq-en-Baroeul, France).

Acknowledgments

We acknowledge Jean-Michel Lecerf (Pasteur Institute of Lille) for comments that improved this manuscript.

Conflict of interest

RD has temporary consulting activities for Lesaffre. NTB, LR, PV, and MD-D were employed by Lesaffre International (Marcq-en-Baroeul, France).

The remaining authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.

The author(s) declared that they were an editorial board member of Frontiers, at the time of submission. This had no impact on the peer review process and the final decision.

Publisher’s note

All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article, or claim that may be made by its manufacturer, is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.

Abbreviations

BMI, Body Mass Index; CHO, Carbohydrates; CRP, CI, C-reactive protein confidence intervals; HS, CRP, High sensitivity C-reactive protein; EFSA, European Food Safety Agency; FPG, Fasting Plasma Glucose; GIP, Glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide; GLP-1, Glucagon-Like Peptide-1; GT, gelatinization temperature; HbA1c, Glycated hemoglobin; HDL-C, High-Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol; HMT, heat-moisture treatment; IL-6, Interleukin 6; LDL-C, Low-density lipoprotein cholesterol; NDA, EFSA Panel on Dietetic Products, Nutrition, and Allergies; RCT, Randomized controlled trial; RMD, Resistant maltodextrin; RS, Resistant starch; RDS, Rapidly digestible starch; SCFA, Short-chain fatty acids; SDS, slowly digestible starch; SMD, Standardized mean difference; TAC, Total antioxidant capacity; TNF-α, Tumor necrosis Factor; T2DM, type-2 diabetes mellitus.

References

  • 1.

    EFSA Panel on Dietetic Products, Nutrition, and Allergies. Scientific opinion on dietary reference values for carbohydrates and dietary fibre. EFSA J. (2010) 8:1462. doi: 10.2903/j.efsa.2010.1462

  • 2.

    StylianopoulosC. Encyclopedia of human nutrition. Carbohydrates: Chemistry and classification. 3rd ed. Cambridge, MA: Academic Press, Elsevier (2013).

  • 3.

    EnglystHNKingmanSMCummingsJH. Classification and measurement of nutritionally important starch fractions. Eur J Clin Nutr. (1992) 46 Suppl 2:S33–50. PMID:

  • 4.

    MaZBoyeJI. Research advances on structural characterization of resistant starch and its structure-physiological function relationship: a review. Crit Rev Food Sci Nutr. (2018) 58:1059–83. doi: 10.1080/10408398.2016.1230537

  • 5.

    RaigondPEzekielRRaigondB. Resistant starch in food: a review. J Sci Food Agric. (2015) 95:1968–78. doi: 10.1002/jsfa.6966

  • 6.

    BojarczukASkąpskaSMousavi KhaneghahAMarszałekK. Health benefits of resistant starch: a review of the literature. J Funct Foods. (2022) 93:105094:105094. doi: 10.1016/j.jff.2022.105094

  • 7.

    TsitsouSAthanasakiCDimitriadisGPapakonstantinouE. Acute effects of dietary Fiber in starchy foods on glycemic and Insulinemic responses: a systematic review of randomized controlled crossover trials. Nutrients. (2023) 15:2383. doi: 10.3390/nu15102383

  • 8.

    European Commission. Overview of dietary fibre intake across European countries. Avec la collaboration de I. Elmadfa et a. Meyer. University of Vienna. European Commission website, ConsultƩ le September 2023. (2021).

  • 9.

    DerekMWesleyTMindyPCrystalD. Usual dietary Fiber intake in US adults with diabetes: NHANES 2013–2018. Curr Dev Nutr. (2021) 5:1061. doi: 10.1093/cdn/nzab053_054

  • 10.

    YanRAndrewLMarlowEKunaratnamKDevineADunicanICet al. Dietary fibre intervention for gut microbiota, sleep, and mental health in adults with irritable bowel syndrome: a scoping review. Nutrients. (2021) 13:159. doi: 10.3390/nu13072159

  • 11.

    ChenLLiuRQinCMengYZhangJWangYet al. Sources and intake of resistant starch in the Chinese diet. Asia Pac J Clin Nutr. (2010) 19:274–82. PMID:

  • 12.

    Fuentes-ZaragozaERiquelme-NavarreteMJSĆ”nchez-ZapataEPĆ©rez-ƁlvarezJA. Resistant starch as functional ingredient: a review. Food Res Int. (2010) 43:931–42. doi: 10.1016/j.foodres.2010.02.004

  • 13.

    LaurentinAEdwardsC. Encyclopedia of human nutrition. Carbohydrates | resistant starch and oligosaccharides. San Diego: Academic Press (1999).

  • 14.

    GutiĆ©rrezTJTovarJ. Update of the concept of type 5 resistant starch (RS5): self-assembled starch V-type complexes. Trends Food Sci Technol. (2021) 109:711–24. doi: 10.1016/j.tifs.2021.01.078

  • 15.

    ZhangguiWShuliWQinhongXQiKFeiLLinLet al. Synthesis and functions of resistant starch. Adv Nutr (Bethesda, Md). (2023) 14:5, 1131–1144. doi: 10.1016/j.advnut.2023.06.001

  • 16.

    PattersonMAMaiyaMStewartML. Resistant starch content in foods commonly consumed in the United States: a narrative review. J Acad Nutr Diet. (2020) 120:230–44. doi: 10.1016/j.jand.2019.10.019

  • 17.

    LishaSJiayangLYunhaiL. Resistant starch formation in rice: genetic regulation and beyond. Plant Commun. (2022) 3:100329. doi: 10.1016/j.xplc.2022.100329

  • 18.

    Maina NdegwaHAnneRDeBYNooraM-SStefanSMattilaOet al. Process-induced changes in the quantity and characteristics of grain dietary Fiber. Foods (Basel, Switzerland). (2021) 10:2566. doi: 10.3390/foods10112566

  • 19.

    RomanLMartinezMM. Structural basis of resistant starch (RS) in bread: natural and commercial alternatives. Foods. (2019) 8:267. doi: 10.3390/foods8070267

  • 20.

    TianSSunY. Influencing factor of resistant starch formation and application in cereal products: a review. Int J Biol Macromol. (2020) 149:424–31. doi: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2020.01.264

  • 21.

    ƅkerbergALiljebergHBjƶrckI. Effects of amylose/amylopectin ratio and baking conditions on resistant starch formation and Glycaemic indices. J Cereal Sci. (1998) 28:71–80. doi: 10.1006/jcrs.1997.0173

  • 22.

    Hallstrƶm ElinorSestiliFLafiandraDBjƶrckIƖstmanE. A novel wheat variety with elevated content of amylose increases resistant starch formation and may beneficially influence glycaemia in healthy subjects. Food Nutr Res. (2011) 55:7074. doi: 10.3402/fnr.v55i0.7074

  • 23.

    LiljebergHGBjƶrckIM. Delayed gastric emptying rate as a potential mechanism for lowered glycemia after eating sourdough bread: studies in humans and rats using test products with added organic acids or an organic salt. Am J Clin Nutr. (1996) 64:886–93. doi: 10.1093/ajcn/64.6.886

  • 24.

    ZenelAMStewartML. High amylose white Rice reduces post-prandial glycemic response but not appetite in humans. Nutrients. (2015) 7:5362–74. doi: 10.3390/nu7075225

  • 25.

    AngKBourgyCFentonHReginaANewberryMDiepeveenDet al. Noodles made from high amylose wheat flour attenuate postprandial glycaemia in healthy adults. Nutrients. (2020) 12:2171. doi: 10.3390/nu12082171

  • 26.

    BelobrajdicDPReginaAKlingnerBZajacIChapronSBerbezyPet al. High-amylose wheat lowers the postprandial glycemic response to bread in healthy adults: a randomized controlled crossover trial. J Nutr. (2019) 149:1335–45. doi: 10.1093/jn/nxz067

  • 27.

    LenkaÅ JanaBTiborSMarieHVlastaFVĆ”clavDet al. Influence of technological processing of wheat grain on starch digestibility and resistant starch content. Starch StƤrke. (2016) 68:593–602. doi: 10.1002/star.201500162

  • 28.

    AlsaffarAA. Effect of food processing on the resistant starch content of cereals and cereal products–a review. Int J Food Sci Technol. (2011) 46:455–62. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2621.2010.02529.x

  • 29.

    DelcourJABruneelCDerdeLJGomandSVPareytBPutseysJAet al. Fate of starch in food processing: from raw materials to final food products. Annu Rev Food Sci Technol. (2010) 1:87–111. doi: 10.1146/annurev.food.102308.124211

  • 30.

    AmaralOGuerreiroCSGomesACravoM. Resistant starch production in wheat bread: effect of ingredients, baking conditions and storage. Eur Food Res Technol. (2016) 242:1747–53. doi: 10.1007/s00217-016-2674-4

  • 31.

    Bilbao-SĆ”inzCButlerMWeaverTBentJ. Wheat starch gelatinization under microwave irradiation and conduction heating. Carbohydr Polym. (2007) 69:224–32. doi: 10.1016/j.carbpol.2006.09.026

  • 32.

    ChengZLiJQiaoDWangLZhaoSZhangB. Microwave reheating enriches resistant starch in cold-chain cooked rice: a view of structural alterations during digestion. Int J Biol Macromol. (2022) 208:80–7. doi: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2022.03.034

  • 33.

    LiuTZhangBWangLZhaoSQiaoDZhangLet al. Microwave reheating increases the resistant starch content in cooked rice with high water contents. Int J Biol Macromol. (2021) 184:804–11. doi: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2021.06.136

  • 34.

    PengZChengLMengKShenYWuDShuX. Retaining a large amount of resistant starch in cooked potato through microwave heating after freeze-drying. Curr Res Food Sci. (2022) 5:1660–7. doi: 10.1016/j.crfs.2022.09.023

  • 35.

    YuTMingLAoxingTJay-LinJSushilDBoliG. RS content and eGI value of cooked noodles (I): effect of cooking methods. Foods (Basel, Switzerland). (2020) 9:328. doi: 10.3390/foods9030328

  • 36.

    IsraMAndriantoDSetiartoRHB. Effect of microwave heat treatment for resistant starch levels and prebiotic properties of high carbohydrate foods: Meta-analysis study. Chiang Mai Univ J Natl Sci. (2022) 21:32. doi: 10.12982/CMUJNS.2022.032

  • 37.

    Da ZavarezeEDiasARG. Impact of heat-moisture treatment and annealing in starches: a review. Carbohydr Polym. (2011) 83:317–28. doi: 10.1016/j.carbpol.2010.08.064

  • 38.

    FonsecaLMHalalSLMDiasARGZavarezeEDR. Physical modification of starch by heat-moisture treatment and annealing and their applications: a review. Carbohydr Polym. (2021) 274:118665. doi: 10.1016/j.carbpol.2021.118665

  • 39.

    SunYQinRZengJLiG. Effect of heat-moisture treatment on the structure and digestibility of sweet potato starch. Foods. (2023) 12:76. doi: 10.3390/foods12163076

  • 40.

    LeeC-SChungH-J. Enhancing resistant starch content of high amylose Rice starch through heat-moisture treatment for industrial application. Molecules. (2022) 27:375. doi: 10.3390/molecules27196375

  • 41.

    Li ZhiyuanGuoDLiXTangZLingXZhouTet al. Heat-moisture treatment further reduces in vitro digestibility and enhances resistant starch content of a high-resistant starch and low-Glutelin Rice. Foods (Basel, Switzerland). (2021) 10. doi: 10.3390/foods10112562

  • 42.

    ZhengBZhongSTangYChenL. Understanding the nutritional functions of thermally-processed whole grain highland barley in vitro and in vivo. Food Chem. (2020) 310:125979. doi: 10.1016/j.foodchem.2019.125979

  • 43.

    ZhengYChaiZKongXChenSYeXTianJ. Effect of annealing treatment on the physicochemical properties and enzymatic hydrolysis of different types of starch. Food Chem. (2023) 403:134153. doi: 10.1016/j.foodchem.2022.134153

  • 44.

    WangJYeYChaiZLiuHWeiXYeXet al. Physicochemical properties and in vitro digestibility of proso millet starch modified by heat-moisture treatment and annealing processing. Int J Biol Macromol. (2023) 235:123829. doi: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2023.123829

  • 45.

    Bimo Setiarto RHIsraMAndriantoDWidhyastutiNMasrukhinM. Improvement of prebiotic properties and resistant starch content of corn flour (Zea mays L.) Momala Gorontalo using physical, chemical and enzymatic modification. Trop Life Sci Res. (2023) 34:255–78. doi: 10.21315/tlsr2023.34.2.13

  • 46.

    FaridahDNSilitongaRFIndrastiDAfandiFAJayanegaraAAnugerahMP. Verification of autoclaving-cooling treatment to increase the resistant starch contents in food starches based on meta-analysis result. Front Nutr. (2022) 9:904700. doi: 10.3389/fnut.2022.904700

  • 47.

    SullivanWRHughesJGCockmanRWSmallDM. The effects of temperature on the crystalline properties and resistant starch during storage of white bread. Food Chem. (2017) 228:57–61. doi: 10.1016/j.foodchem.2017.01.140

  • 48.

    SoniaSWitjaksonoFRidwanR. Effect of cooling of cooked white rice on resistant starch content and glycemic response. Asia Pac J Clin Nutr. (2015) 24:620–5. doi: 10.6133/apjcn.2015.24.4.13

  • 49.

    SylwiaSAnitaR-FStanislawPJoannaLT-BAnnaKDorotaZ-Z. Influence of resistant starch resulting from the cooling of rice on postprandial glycemia in type 1 diabetes. Nutr Diabetes. (2022) 12:21. doi: 10.1038/s41387-022-00196-1

  • 50.

    ChiuY-TStewartML. Effect of variety and cooking method on resistant starch content of white rice and subsequent postprandial glucose response and appetite in humans. Asia Pac J Clin Nutr. (2013) 22:372–9. doi: 10.6133/apjcn.2013.22.3.08

  • 51.

    TianYLiMLiuXJaneJ-LGuoBDhitalS. Storage temperature and time affect the enzyme resistance starch and glycemic response of cooked noodles. Food Chem. (2021) 344:128702. doi: 10.1016/j.foodchem.2020.128702

  • 52.

    ShumoyHvan BockstaeleFDeveciogluDRaesK. Effect of sourdough addition and storage time on in vitro starch digestibility and estimated glycemic index of tef bread. Food Chem. (2018) 264:34–40. doi: 10.1016/j.foodchem.2018.05.019

  • 53.

    AnnaMIvoHRainerTTƵnisPArvoMToomasP. Structural changes of starch during baking and staling of rye bread. J Agric Food Chem. (2012) 60:8492–500. doi: 10.1021/jf3021877

  • 54.

    Demirkesen-BicaHMuhammetAMustafaYSalihKOsmanS. Effect of Different Fermentation Condition on Estimated Glycemic Index, In Vitro Starch Digestibility, and Textural and Sensory Properties of Sourdough Bread. Foods. (2021) 10:514. doi: 10.3390/foods10030514

  • 55.

    TeixeiraCNymanMAnderssonRAlmingerM. Effects of variety and steeping conditions on some barley components associated with colonic health. J Sci Food Agric. (2016) 96:4821–7. doi: 10.1002/jsfa.7923

  • 56.

    AminiSMansooriAMaghsumi-NorouzabadL. The effect of acute consumption of resistant starch on appetite in healthy adults; a systematic review and meta-analysis of the controlled clinical trials. Clin Nutr ESPEN. (2021) 41:42–8. doi: 10.1016/j.clnesp.2020.12.006

  • 57.

    RuiminCZhangCXuFYuLTianFChenWet al. Meta-analysis reveals gut microbiome and functional pathway alterations in response to resistant starch. Food Funct. (2023) 14:5251–63. doi: 10.1039/d3fo00845b

  • 58.

    X. DuWuJGaoCTanQXuY. Effects of resistant starch on patients with chronic kidney disease: a systematic review and Meta-analysis. J Diabetes Res. (2022) 2022:1–11. doi: 10.1155/2022/1861009

  • 59.

    GaoCRaoMHuangWWanQYanPLongYet al. Resistant starch ameliorated insulin resistant in patients of type 2 diabetes with obesity: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Lipids Health Dis. (2019) 18:205. doi: 10.1186/s12944-019-1127-z

  • 60.

    HaghighatdoostFGholamiAHaririM. Effect of resistant starch type 2 on inflammatory mediators: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Complement Ther Med. (2021) 56:102597. doi: 10.1016/j.ctim.2020.102597

  • 61.

    HalajzadehJMilajerdiAReinerŽAmiraniEKolahdoozFBarekatMet al. Effects of resistant starch on glycemic control, serum lipoproteins and systemic inflammation in patients with metabolic syndrome and related disorders: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled clinical trials. Crit Rev Food Sci Nutr. (2020) 60:3172–84. doi: 10.1080/10408398.2019.1680950

  • 62.

    KingraKCurtisSMollardRCShamlooMAskinNTangriNet al. The effects of resistant starch consumption in adult patients with chronic kidney disease: a systematic review. Can J Kidney Health Dis. (2022) 9:205435812211000. doi: 10.1177/20543581221100023

  • 63.

    LuJMaBQiuXSunZXiongK. Effects of resistant starch supplementation on oxidative stress and inflammation biomarkers: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Asia Pac J Clin Nutr. (2021) 30:614–23. doi: 10.6133/apjcn.202112_30(4).0008

  • 64.

    PughJECaiMAltieriNFrostG. A comparison of the effects of resistant starch types on glycemic response in individuals with type 2 diabetes or prediabetes: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Front Nutr. (2023) 10:1118229. doi: 10.3389/fnut.2023.1118229

  • 65.

    DeqiangSHaoBZhaopingLYueYHuanhuanZLiyongC. Positive effects of resistant starch supplementation on bowel function in healthy adults: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Int J Food Sci Nutr. (2017) 68:149–57. doi: 10.1080/09637486.2016.1226275

  • 66.

    SnelsonMJongJManolasDKokSLouiseASternRet al. Metabolic effects of resistant starch type 2: a systematic literature review and Meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Nutrients. (2019) 11:1833. doi: 10.3390/nu11081833

  • 67.

    VahdatMAhmadHSGolsaKMJavadHMehranR. Effects of resistant starch interventions on circulating inflammatory biomarkers: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Nutr J. (2020) 19:33. doi: 10.1186/s12937-020-00548-6

  • 68.

    WangYChenJSongY-HZhaoRXiaLChenYet al. Effects of the resistant starch on glucose, insulin, insulin resistance, and lipid parameters in overweight or obese adults: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Nutr Diabetes. (2019) 9:19. doi: 10.1038/s41387-019-0086-9

  • 69.

    YaliWXiyuZYanMQianWHongzhaoXLiyongC. The effects of resistant starch on biomarkers of inflammation and oxidative stress: a systematic review and Meta-analysis. Nutr Cancer. (2022) 74:2337–50. doi: 10.1080/01635581.2021.2019284

  • 70.

    XiongKWangJKangTXuFMaA. Effects of resistant starch on glycaemic control: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Br J Nutr. (2021) 125:1260–9. doi: 10.1017/S0007114520003700

  • 71.

    YuanHCMengYBaiHShenDQWanBCChenLY. Meta-analysis indicates that resistant starch lowers serum total cholesterol and low-density cholesterol. Nutr Res. (2018) 54:1–11. doi: 10.1016/j.nutres.2018.02.008

  • 72.

    WatanabeNSuzukiMYamaguchiYEgashiraY. Effects of resistant maltodextrin on bowel movements: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Clin Exp Gastroenterol. (2018) 11:85–96. doi: 10.2147/CEG.S153924

  • 73.

    RaoMGaoCHouJGuJBettyLKwanYet al. Non-digestible carbohydrate and the risk of colorectal neoplasia: a systematic review. Nutr Cancer. (2021) 73:31–44. doi: 10.1080/01635581.2020.1742360

  • 74.

    GourineniVStewartMLWilcoxMLMakiKC. Nutritional Bar with potato-based resistant starch attenuated post-prandial glucose and insulin response in healthy adults. Foods. (2020) 9:679. doi: 10.3390/foods9111679

  • 75.

    Stewart MariaLPaulZJ. Postprandial glucose and insulin response to a high-fiber muffin top containing resistant starch type 4 in healthy adults: a double-blind, randomized, controlled trial. Nutrition (Burbank, Los Angeles County, Calif). (2018) 53:59–63. doi: 10.1016/j.nut.2018.01.002

  • 76.

    DuYWuYXiaoDGuzmanGStewartMLGourineniVet al. Food prototype containing resistant starch type 4 on postprandial glycemic response in healthy adults. Food Funct. (2020) 11:2231–7. doi: 10.1039/c9fo02674f

  • 77.

    StewartMLWilcoxMLBellMBuggiaMAMakiKC. Type-4 resistant starch in substitution for available carbohydrate reduces postprandial glycemic response and hunger in acute, randomized, double-blind, controlled study. Nutrients. (2018) 10:129. doi: 10.3390/nu10020129

  • 78.

    CaiMDouBPughJELettAMFrostGS. The impact of starchy food structure on postprandial glycemic response and appetite: a systematic review with meta-analysis of randomized crossover trials. Am J Clin Nutr. (2021) 114:472–87. doi: 10.1093/ajcn/nqab098

  • 79.

    DhakalSDeyM. Resistant starch type-4 intake alters circulating bile acids in human subjects. Front Nutr. (2022) 9:930414. doi: 10.3389/fnut.2022.930414

  • 80.

    AlfilasariNSirivongpaisalPWichienchotS. Gut health function of instant dehydrated Rice sticks substituted with resistant starch types 2 and 4. Curr Microbiol. (2021) 78:3010–9. doi: 10.1007/s00284-021-02564-z

  • 81.

    LiLRyanJNingZZhangXMayneJLavallĆ©e-AdamMet al. A functional ecological network based on metaproteomics responses of individual gut microbiomes to resistant starches. Comput Struct Biotechnol J. (2020) 18:3833–42. doi: 10.1016/j.csbj.2020.10.042

  • 82.

    DeMartinoPCockburnDW. Resistant starch: impact on the gut microbiome and health. Curr Opin Biotechnol. (2020) 61:66–71. doi: 10.1016/j.copbio.2019.10.008

  • 83.

    ThakurMRaiAKSinghSP. Structural characteristics, physicochemical properties, and digestibility analysis of resistant starch type-V prepared from Debranched corn starch and fatty acid complexation. ACS Omega. (2023) 8:25799–807. doi: 10.1021/acsomega.3c01093

  • 84.

    ZhengBWangTWangHChenLZhouZ. Studies on nutritional intervention of rice starch-oleic acid complex (resistant starch type V) in rats fed by high-fat diet. Carbohydr Polym. (2020) 246:116637. doi: 10.1016/j.carbpol.2020.116637

  • 85.

    GuoJEllisAZhangYKongLTanL. Starch-ascorbyl palmitate inclusion complex, a type 5 resistant starch, reduced in vitro digestibility and improved in vivo glycemic response in mice. Carbohydr Polym. (2023) 321:121289. doi: 10.1016/j.carbpol.2023.121289

  • 86.

    López-BarónNSagnelliDBlennowAHolseMGaoJSaabyLet al. Hydrolysed pea proteins mitigate in vitro wheat starch digestibility. Food Hydrocoll. (2018) 79:117–26. doi: 10.1016/j.foodhyd.2017.12.009

  • 87.

    XuHZhouJYuJWangSWangS. Mechanisms underlying the effect of gluten and its hydrolysates on in vitro enzymatic digestibility of wheat starch. Food Hydrocoll. (2021) 113:106507. doi: 10.1016/j.foodhyd.2020.106507

  • 88.

    ZhangYDouBJiaJLiuYZhangN. A study on the structural and digestive properties of Rice starch-hydrocolloid complexes treated with heat-moisture treatment. Foods. (2023) 12:241. doi: 10.3390/foods12234241

  • 89.

    EFSA Panel on Dietetic Products, Nutrition and Allergies. Scientific opinion on the substantiation of health claims related to resistant starch and reduction of post-prandial glycaemic responses (ID 681), ā€œdigestive health benefitsā€ (ID 682) and ā€œfavours a normal colon metabolismā€ (ID 783) pursuant to article 13(1) of regulation (EC) no 1924/2006. EFSA J. (2011) 9:2024. doi: 10.2903/j.efsa.2011.2024

Summary

Keywords

resistant starch, human health, food processing, nutritional properties, fibers

Citation

Baptista NT, Dessalles R, Illner A-K, Ville P, Ribet L, Anton PM and Durand-Dubief M (2024) Harnessing the power of resistant starch: a narrative review of its health impact and processing challenges. Front. Nutr. 11:1369950. doi: 10.3389/fnut.2024.1369950

Received

13 January 2024

Accepted

05 March 2024

Published

20 March 2024

Volume

11 - 2024

Edited by

Xianyang Bao, Harvard University, United States

Reviewed by

Hai He, Hainan Medical University, China

Chengdeng Chi, Fujian Normal University, China

Updates

Copyright

*Correspondence: Mickaƫl Durand-Dubief, ;

†These authors have contributed equally to this work

Disclaimer

All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article or claim that may be made by its manufacturer is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.

Outline

Cite article

Copy to clipboard


Export citation file


Share article

Article metrics