Improved the slow digestion property of maize starch using partially β-amylolysis

In this study, partial β-amylolysis was used to modulate the starch fine structure responsible for the slow digestion property of starch. Normal maize starch modified using β-amylase for 2 h showed an increase of slowly digestible starch from 11.16% to 24.38%. The β-amylase treatment increased the amylose content from 28.4% to 32.5%, decreased the molecular weight from 32.5×10(7) to 3.8×10(5) g/mol and increased the number of shorter chains (DP<13) from 25.5% to 41.1%, accompanied by a reduction of longer chains (DP>13). (1)H NMR spectra showed an increase of α-1,6 linkages from 7.4% to 10.1% in the enzyme treated starches. Both the increase in the amount of shorter chains and the increase in α-1,6 linkages were attributed to the slow digestion property of starch. These results suggest that starches treated with partial β-amylolysis retain a branched structure and slow digestibility.