Overweight indices have increased in the recent years, and thus the occurrence of non-communicable
diseases related to them. The recommendation of fat reduction in food may contribute to reduce the
risk of these diseases. Attention has focused on bakery products, such as pound cake, which contains up
to 17 g fat/100 g product. A novel ingredient, chia seed (Salvia hispanica L.), has been studied for its high
water-absorbing and viscous mucilaginous external layer, in order to evaluate its potential as fat substitute
in bakery products.We investigated the effects of the replacement of 25, 50, 75 and 100 g/100 g of
vegetable fat by chia mucilage gel (CMG) on the technological properties of pound cakes. CMG was
produced by rehydration with water of lyophilized chia mucilage (LCM). Replacement of vegetable fat by
CMG did not significantly alter the specific volume, symmetry, uniformity, moisture and water activity
(aw) of the cakes. Color parameters, as well as crumb firmness of cakes, were influenced by higher levels
of fat replacement with CMG. We concluded that the replacement of up to 25 g/100 g of fat by CMG is
technologically feasible in pound cakes, with no significant alterations on their quality characteristics.