Effect of formulations and fermentation processes on volatile organic compounds and prebiotic potential of gluten-free bread fortified by spirulina (<i>Arthrospira platensis</i>)
Flavia Casciano, Lorenzo Nissen, Andrea Gianotti
Abstract
(spirulina) flour. Two different dough formulations (with and without fortification) were fermented by four different processes, including spontaneous, single strains and sourdough starters. The baked products were then subjected to "consumer's tests". During the process, fermentation performances, prebiotic activity, and the VOC (Volatile Organic Compound) profiles were analyzed and compared through robust multivariate statistics. The results obtained evidenced that fortification led to a product with more abundant (medium organic acids) and exclusive bioactives (thymol, borneol, and nicotinic acid), which were correlated to the prebiotic activity of spirulina breads. This work, for the first time indicates that spirulina can be used to fortify GF bakery, improving also its functional potential.