Macronutrients in Corn and Human Nutrition

As the leading cereal crop in the world, corn (Zea mays L.) plays a significant role in human foods. The focus of this review is on the structures, properties, bioavailability, and health benefits of macronutrients in corn, including its starch, nonstarch polysaccharides, protein, and lipids. With a large number of naturally existent mutants, corn and corn-based food ingredients with varying macronutrient compositions and different chemical structures and physical properties are commercially available. The corn varieties that have attracted the most interest in human nutrition include high-amylose, high-protein, and high-oil corn. Chemical compositions and molecular structures of starch, nonstarch polysaccharides, protein, and lipids from different corn varieties are comprehensively reviewed here and related to their physical properties, bioavailability, and physiological effects on human health. Particular emphasis is placed upon the impacts of high-amylose corn flour/starch on postprandial glycemic/insulinemic responses, insulin sensitivity, satiety/appetite, lipid metabolism/obesity, colon health, and mineral absorption. The information presented in this article will be useful for the utilization of corn and the development of corn-based food ingredients to prepare nutritious food products to improve human health.