Alkaline Amino Acids for Salt Reduction in Surimi: A Review

Surimi products are popular due to their high protein and low fat content. However, traditional processing methods rely on high concentrations of salt (2–3%) to maintain texture and stability, contributing to excessive sodium intake. As global health trends advance, developing green and low-salt tec...

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Main Authors: Tong Shi, Guxia Wang, Yu Xie, Wengang Jin, Xin Wang, Mengzhe Li, Yuanxiu Liu, Li Yuan
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-07-01
Series:Foods
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2304-8158/14/14/2545
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author Tong Shi
Guxia Wang
Yu Xie
Wengang Jin
Xin Wang
Mengzhe Li
Yuanxiu Liu
Li Yuan
author_facet Tong Shi
Guxia Wang
Yu Xie
Wengang Jin
Xin Wang
Mengzhe Li
Yuanxiu Liu
Li Yuan
author_sort Tong Shi
collection DOAJ
description Surimi products are popular due to their high protein and low fat content. However, traditional processing methods rely on high concentrations of salt (2–3%) to maintain texture and stability, contributing to excessive sodium intake. As global health trends advance, developing green and low-salt technologies while maintaining product quality has become a research focus. Alkaline amino acids regulate protein conformation and intermolecular interactions through charge shielding, hydrogen bond topology, metal chelation, and hydration to compensate for the defects of solubility, gelation, and emulsification stability in the low-salt system. This article systematically reviews the mechanisms and applications of alkaline amino acids in reducing salt and maintaining quality in surimi. Research indicates that alkaline amino acids regulate the conformational changes of myofibrillar proteins through electrostatic shielding, hydrogen bond topology construction, and metal chelation, significantly improving gel strength, water retention, and emulsion stability in low-salt systems, with the results comparable to those in high-salt systems. Future research should optimize addition strategies using computational simulations technologies and establish a quality and safety evaluation system to promote industrial application. This review provides a theoretical basis for the green processing and functional enhancement of surimi products, which could have significant academic and industrial value.
format Article
id doaj-art-e48c159aaf31481c81a893f88bb6aec7
institution Kabale University
issn 2304-8158
language English
publishDate 2025-07-01
publisher MDPI AG
record_format Article
series Foods
spelling doaj-art-e48c159aaf31481c81a893f88bb6aec72025-08-20T03:58:26ZengMDPI AGFoods2304-81582025-07-011414254510.3390/foods14142545Alkaline Amino Acids for Salt Reduction in Surimi: A ReviewTong Shi0Guxia Wang1Yu Xie2Wengang Jin3Xin Wang4Mengzhe Li5Yuanxiu Liu6Li Yuan7School of Food and Biological Engineering, Jiangsu University, No. 301, Xuefu Road, Zhenjiang 212013, ChinaSchool of Food and Biological Engineering, Jiangsu University, No. 301, Xuefu Road, Zhenjiang 212013, ChinaSchool of Food and Biological Engineering, Jiangsu University, No. 301, Xuefu Road, Zhenjiang 212013, ChinaBio-Resources Key Laboratory of Shaanxi Province, School of Biological Science and Engineering, Shaanxi University of Technology, Hanzhong 723001, ChinaSchool of Food and Biological Engineering, Jiangsu University, No. 301, Xuefu Road, Zhenjiang 212013, ChinaSchool of Food and Biological Engineering, Jiangsu University, No. 301, Xuefu Road, Zhenjiang 212013, ChinaSchool of Food and Biological Engineering, Jiangsu University, No. 301, Xuefu Road, Zhenjiang 212013, ChinaSchool of Food and Biological Engineering, Jiangsu University, No. 301, Xuefu Road, Zhenjiang 212013, ChinaSurimi products are popular due to their high protein and low fat content. However, traditional processing methods rely on high concentrations of salt (2–3%) to maintain texture and stability, contributing to excessive sodium intake. As global health trends advance, developing green and low-salt technologies while maintaining product quality has become a research focus. Alkaline amino acids regulate protein conformation and intermolecular interactions through charge shielding, hydrogen bond topology, metal chelation, and hydration to compensate for the defects of solubility, gelation, and emulsification stability in the low-salt system. This article systematically reviews the mechanisms and applications of alkaline amino acids in reducing salt and maintaining quality in surimi. Research indicates that alkaline amino acids regulate the conformational changes of myofibrillar proteins through electrostatic shielding, hydrogen bond topology construction, and metal chelation, significantly improving gel strength, water retention, and emulsion stability in low-salt systems, with the results comparable to those in high-salt systems. Future research should optimize addition strategies using computational simulations technologies and establish a quality and safety evaluation system to promote industrial application. This review provides a theoretical basis for the green processing and functional enhancement of surimi products, which could have significant academic and industrial value.https://www.mdpi.com/2304-8158/14/14/2545alkaline amino acidssurimi productssalt reductionquality preservationmyofibrillar protein
spellingShingle Tong Shi
Guxia Wang
Yu Xie
Wengang Jin
Xin Wang
Mengzhe Li
Yuanxiu Liu
Li Yuan
Alkaline Amino Acids for Salt Reduction in Surimi: A Review
Foods
alkaline amino acids
surimi products
salt reduction
quality preservation
myofibrillar protein
title Alkaline Amino Acids for Salt Reduction in Surimi: A Review
title_full Alkaline Amino Acids for Salt Reduction in Surimi: A Review
title_fullStr Alkaline Amino Acids for Salt Reduction in Surimi: A Review
title_full_unstemmed Alkaline Amino Acids for Salt Reduction in Surimi: A Review
title_short Alkaline Amino Acids for Salt Reduction in Surimi: A Review
title_sort alkaline amino acids for salt reduction in surimi a review
topic alkaline amino acids
surimi products
salt reduction
quality preservation
myofibrillar protein
url https://www.mdpi.com/2304-8158/14/14/2545
work_keys_str_mv AT tongshi alkalineaminoacidsforsaltreductioninsurimiareview
AT guxiawang alkalineaminoacidsforsaltreductioninsurimiareview
AT yuxie alkalineaminoacidsforsaltreductioninsurimiareview
AT wengangjin alkalineaminoacidsforsaltreductioninsurimiareview
AT xinwang alkalineaminoacidsforsaltreductioninsurimiareview
AT mengzheli alkalineaminoacidsforsaltreductioninsurimiareview
AT yuanxiuliu alkalineaminoacidsforsaltreductioninsurimiareview
AT liyuan alkalineaminoacidsforsaltreductioninsurimiareview