Fructans, water-soluble fibre and fermentable sugars in bread and pasta made with ancient and modern wheat

The aim of this study was to determine wheat constituents in bread and pasta that might result in intestinal gas production. Fructans, water-soluble arabinoxylans, arabinogalactan proteins and fermentable sugars were followed in bread and pasta made with ancient (Khorasan wheat; emmer) and modern wheats (common wheat; durum). After fermentation for 180 min, 80% of fructans were eliminated and higher levels of fructose than glucose accumulated in bread dough supplemented with sucrose. Whole-grain Khorasan wheat and emmer flours inhibited yeast fermentative activity. Half of fructans, arabinogalactan proteins and sugars were washed out in cooking water for pasta. Water-soluble wheat arabinoxylans increased in bread and cooked pasta. With very low levels (0.3-0.8%, dry basis), fructans in cooked pasta and, in particular, long-fermentation bread prepared with modern or ancient wheat would unlikely act as major gas-forming triggers of gastrointestinal discomfort associated with noncoeliac gluten sensitivity.