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Control of β-carotene bioaccessibility using starch-based filled hydrogels
Saehun Mun1, Yong-Ro Kim2, David Julian McClements3
1Center for Food and Bioconvergence, and Department of Biosystems and Biomaterials Science and Engineering, Seoul National University, Seoul 151-742, Republic of Korea; Department of Food Science, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA 01003, United States.
Filled hydrogels improved beta-carotene delivery compared to emulsions and hydrogels. This rice starch system enhances beta-carotene bioaccessibility for fortified foods.
Area of Science:
- Food Science and Technology
- Nutritional Science
- Materials Science
Background:
- Beta-carotene, a lipophilic nutraceutical, requires effective delivery systems for optimal bioavailability.
- Protein-coated fat droplets and rice starch gels represent potential matrices for encapsulating lipophilic compounds.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate beta-carotene bioaccessibility in three distinct delivery systems: emulsions, hydrogels, and filled hydrogels.
- To investigate the stability of fat droplets within these systems under simulated gastrointestinal conditions.
- To provide insights for designing rice-starch based delivery systems for lipophilic nutraceuticals.
Main Methods:
- Incorporation of beta-carotene into protein-coated fat droplets (emulsions, filled hydrogels) and rice starch gels (hydrogels).
- Assessment of fat droplet stability in simulated oral, gastric, and intestinal environments.
- Quantification of beta-carotene bioaccessibility across the different delivery systems.
Main Results:
- Filled hydrogels exhibited superior fat droplet stability under oral and gastric conditions compared to emulsions.
- Beta-carotene bioaccessibility was significantly higher in filled hydrogels (due to stable fat droplets) than in emulsions or hydrogels.
- Rice starch hydrogels without fat showed very low beta-carotene bioaccessibility (≈1%) due to poor solubilization.
Conclusions:
- Filled hydrogels offer a promising delivery system for enhancing beta-carotene bioaccessibility.
- The stability of fat droplets within the delivery system is crucial for lipophilic nutraceutical bioavailability.
- Rice starch-based filled hydrogels can be effectively utilized for fortifying food products with lipophilic compounds.
