Study · Journal of food science · 2023Abstract only

Rice protein and other proteins in extruded rice starch

What it found

Adding rice protein, soy isolate protein or whey concentrate protein to extruded rice starch lowered how quickly the starch was broken down in lab tests.

The proteins also blocked an enzyme that digests starch.

What they found

Animal and lab studies

Starch digestibility

All three proteins reduced the starch digestibility of the extruded samples in lab tests.

Enzyme inhibition

Native soy isolate protein and whey concentrate protein suppressed amyloglucosidase activity. All three proteins blocked the enzyme more strongly after being broken down.

Protein-starch interaction

The proteins and starch interacted through non-covalent bonds and formed more ordered structures in the extruded samples.

V-type structure

The extrusion process helped form a V-type structure in the samples.

Slowly digestible starch

The combined amount of slowly digestible starch and resistant starch went up when less amylose leached out and when the 1047/1022 cm-1 ratio was higher.

What the authors conclude

  • They say that adding protein during extrusion can affect starch digestibility by interacting with starch molecules and by blocking amylase activity.
  • They note that adding protein during extrusion increased the nutritional value of the extrudate and decreased starch digestibility.
  • They suggest this could provide new healthy staple food options for groups such as diabetic and overweight people.

How it was done

Protein is the second major component in starchy foods, but how different protein sources affect starch digestibility was still unclear.

They made extruded rice starch with rice protein, soy isolate protein or whey concentrate protein and measured its structure, digestibility and enzyme activity in the lab.

What it can’t tell you

  • We summarised it from the abstract only.
  • These are lab tests on extruded rice starch, not studies in people.
  • They cannot show how these protein and starch mixtures affect blood sugar or health in a person eating them.

The paper

Title
Effects of rice protein, soy isolate protein, and whey concentrate protein on the digestibility and physicochemical properties of extruded rice starch
Type
Study
Evidence
Animals and lab studies
Summarised from
Abstract only
Cite
Bao H, Liu Q, Yang Y, et al (2023). Effects of rice protein, soy isolate protein, and whey concentrate protein on the digestibility and physicochemical properties of extruded rice starch. Journal of food science. doi:10.1111/1750-3841.16458PubMed 36704898DOI

Summary written 26 Sep 2026. Check it against the paper before it changes what you eat. How we summarise papers · Report an error