Optimising White Wheat Bread Fortification with Vitamin D<sub>3</sub> and Dietary Fibre: Balancing Nutritional Enhancement and Technological Quality

Inadequate vitamin D and dietary fibre intake are growing public health concerns in Western countries, especially in regions with limited sunlight and diets rich in processed foods. Bakery products, widely consumed, offer a promising opportunity for nutritional fortification. This study explored the...

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Main Authors: Sabrina Boudrag, Elke K. Arendt, Celia Segura Godoy, Aylin W. Sahin, Laura Nyhan, Kevin D. Cashman, Emanuele Zannini
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-06-01
Series:Foods
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2304-8158/14/12/2055
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author Sabrina Boudrag
Elke K. Arendt
Celia Segura Godoy
Aylin W. Sahin
Laura Nyhan
Kevin D. Cashman
Emanuele Zannini
author_facet Sabrina Boudrag
Elke K. Arendt
Celia Segura Godoy
Aylin W. Sahin
Laura Nyhan
Kevin D. Cashman
Emanuele Zannini
author_sort Sabrina Boudrag
collection DOAJ
description Inadequate vitamin D and dietary fibre intake are growing public health concerns in Western countries, especially in regions with limited sunlight and diets rich in processed foods. Bakery products, widely consumed, offer a promising opportunity for nutritional fortification. This study explored the possibility of fortifying white wheat bread—a staple food but low in fibre—with vitamin D<sub>3</sub> and various dietary fibres (oat fibre, pectin, cellulose, and beta-glucan). The goal was to enhance its nutritional profile while maintaining desirable bread qualities. Using Response Surface Methodology (RSM), an empirical model, optimised the fibre combination. A range of dough and bread analyses were conducted—including assessments of gluten structure, starch pasting, fermentation activity, crumb hardness, specific volume, and colourimetry. The results showed fibre addition weakened the gluten network and altered starch properties (reduced peak, final and breakdown viscosities)—reducing loaf volume (4.2 ± 0.4 mL/g vs. 4.8 ± 0.1 mL/g for the control)—though to a lesser extent than in wholemeal bread (2.4 ± 0.1 mL/g), while vitamin D<sub>3</sub> inclusion had a minimal impact (4.0 ± 0.4 mL/g for white bread, 2.1 ± 0.0 mL/g for wholemeal bread). The study identified an optimal mix of soluble and insoluble fibres with vitamin D<sub>3</sub> that preserved the texture, crumb structure, and appearance of standard white bread. The final product offered fibre levels (Total Dietary Fibre, TDF = 10.72 ± 0.31 g/100 g bread, vs. 3.81 ± 0.06 g/100 g for the control) comparable to those of wholemeal bread (TDF = 9.54 ± 0.67 g/100 g), with improved texture and volume. This approach presents an effective strategy to enhance staple foods, potentially improving public health through better nutrient intake without compromising consumer acceptance.
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institution Kabale University
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spelling doaj-art-c09a978ec6d1458baaf6d7b3374277d02025-08-20T03:27:29ZengMDPI AGFoods2304-81582025-06-011412205510.3390/foods14122055Optimising White Wheat Bread Fortification with Vitamin D<sub>3</sub> and Dietary Fibre: Balancing Nutritional Enhancement and Technological QualitySabrina Boudrag0Elke K. Arendt1Celia Segura Godoy2Aylin W. Sahin3Laura Nyhan4Kevin D. Cashman5Emanuele Zannini6School of Food and Nutritional Sciences, University College Cork, College Road, T12 YN60 Cork, IrelandSchool of Food and Nutritional Sciences, University College Cork, College Road, T12 YN60 Cork, IrelandSchool of Food and Nutritional Sciences, University College Cork, College Road, T12 YN60 Cork, IrelandSchool of Food and Nutritional Sciences, University College Cork, College Road, T12 YN60 Cork, IrelandSchool of Food and Nutritional Sciences, University College Cork, College Road, T12 YN60 Cork, IrelandSchool of Food and Nutritional Sciences, University College Cork, College Road, T12 YN60 Cork, IrelandSchool of Food and Nutritional Sciences, University College Cork, College Road, T12 YN60 Cork, IrelandInadequate vitamin D and dietary fibre intake are growing public health concerns in Western countries, especially in regions with limited sunlight and diets rich in processed foods. Bakery products, widely consumed, offer a promising opportunity for nutritional fortification. This study explored the possibility of fortifying white wheat bread—a staple food but low in fibre—with vitamin D<sub>3</sub> and various dietary fibres (oat fibre, pectin, cellulose, and beta-glucan). The goal was to enhance its nutritional profile while maintaining desirable bread qualities. Using Response Surface Methodology (RSM), an empirical model, optimised the fibre combination. A range of dough and bread analyses were conducted—including assessments of gluten structure, starch pasting, fermentation activity, crumb hardness, specific volume, and colourimetry. The results showed fibre addition weakened the gluten network and altered starch properties (reduced peak, final and breakdown viscosities)—reducing loaf volume (4.2 ± 0.4 mL/g vs. 4.8 ± 0.1 mL/g for the control)—though to a lesser extent than in wholemeal bread (2.4 ± 0.1 mL/g), while vitamin D<sub>3</sub> inclusion had a minimal impact (4.0 ± 0.4 mL/g for white bread, 2.1 ± 0.0 mL/g for wholemeal bread). The study identified an optimal mix of soluble and insoluble fibres with vitamin D<sub>3</sub> that preserved the texture, crumb structure, and appearance of standard white bread. The final product offered fibre levels (Total Dietary Fibre, TDF = 10.72 ± 0.31 g/100 g bread, vs. 3.81 ± 0.06 g/100 g for the control) comparable to those of wholemeal bread (TDF = 9.54 ± 0.67 g/100 g), with improved texture and volume. This approach presents an effective strategy to enhance staple foods, potentially improving public health through better nutrient intake without compromising consumer acceptance.https://www.mdpi.com/2304-8158/14/12/2055vitamin D deficiencyvitamin D<sub>3</sub>dietary fibresbread fortificationwholemealresponse surface methodology
spellingShingle Sabrina Boudrag
Elke K. Arendt
Celia Segura Godoy
Aylin W. Sahin
Laura Nyhan
Kevin D. Cashman
Emanuele Zannini
Optimising White Wheat Bread Fortification with Vitamin D<sub>3</sub> and Dietary Fibre: Balancing Nutritional Enhancement and Technological Quality
Foods
vitamin D deficiency
vitamin D<sub>3</sub>
dietary fibres
bread fortification
wholemeal
response surface methodology
title Optimising White Wheat Bread Fortification with Vitamin D<sub>3</sub> and Dietary Fibre: Balancing Nutritional Enhancement and Technological Quality
title_full Optimising White Wheat Bread Fortification with Vitamin D<sub>3</sub> and Dietary Fibre: Balancing Nutritional Enhancement and Technological Quality
title_fullStr Optimising White Wheat Bread Fortification with Vitamin D<sub>3</sub> and Dietary Fibre: Balancing Nutritional Enhancement and Technological Quality
title_full_unstemmed Optimising White Wheat Bread Fortification with Vitamin D<sub>3</sub> and Dietary Fibre: Balancing Nutritional Enhancement and Technological Quality
title_short Optimising White Wheat Bread Fortification with Vitamin D<sub>3</sub> and Dietary Fibre: Balancing Nutritional Enhancement and Technological Quality
title_sort optimising white wheat bread fortification with vitamin d sub 3 sub and dietary fibre balancing nutritional enhancement and technological quality
topic vitamin D deficiency
vitamin D<sub>3</sub>
dietary fibres
bread fortification
wholemeal
response surface methodology
url https://www.mdpi.com/2304-8158/14/12/2055
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