New wheat-rye bread fortified with cereal dietary fibre, β-glucan hydrogel, and sourdough starter culture was designed in this study. The impact of these additives on nutritional composition and antioxidant properties was investigated. Functional bread with extruded wheat bran (10.0 %), cereal β-glucan hydrogel (12.5 %), and lactobacilli starter culture was compared with traditional wheat-rye bread (control). The contents of basic nutrients (protein, fat, etc.), dietary fibre, biologically active compounds (polyphenols and flavonoids), qualitative and quantitative analysis of simple saccharides and phenolic acids (by HPLC) were analysed in both bread types. Antioxidant activity, measured by two spectrophotometric methods (2,2′-azinobis-(3-ethylbenzthiazoline-6-sulphonic acid); ABTS and di(phenyl)-(2,4,6-trinitrophenyl)iminoazanium (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrasyl); DPPH, was also evaluated. The effect of the addition of the above ingredients, as compared with traditionally prepared bread, was examined in the postprandial study, in which glucose and insulin levels were determined. In comparison with the control bread, higher amounts of dietary fibre, flavonoid content, and antioxidant activity were attained in the designed bread. Consumption of the designed bread led to reduced glucose levels in healthy males (n = 10) 120 min after the ingestion of the functional bread compared with the control (p < 0.048). No statistically significant change in the insulin response in the volunteers was observed after consumption of the designed bread compared with the control.

Foxtail millet (Setaria italica) genotypes with red and yellow colour of grain bran were examined and compared for their content of nutritive components, fatty acids and phenolic compounds profile. Moreover, the antioxidant properties were investigated using three different methods. Foxtail millet genotypes contained 14.2% of protein, 5.0% of fat and 4.3% of soluble sugars, on average. Linoleic acid was the most abundant unsaturated fatty acid and palmitic acid was the most abundant saturated fatty acid. Four hydroxybenzoic acids (gallic, protocatechuic, vanillic and syringic acid) and two hydroxycinnamic acids (ferulic and p-coumaric acid) were identified and quantified. All genotypes exhibited effective inhibition of free radicals. Nevertheless, ferrous ion chelating activity was weak. Antioxidant properties of foxtail millet genotypes were closely associated with the presence of phenolics. A relationship between intensity of grain colour and antioxidant properties as well as phenolic compounds content, was observed. We can conclude that the content of evaluated parameters varied among foxtail millet genotypes, therefore their assessment and selection is desirable in order to cultivate crops and produce foods with advanced nutritional and antioxidant properties.