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Updated: May 5, 2026

A Gnotobiotic System for Studying Microbiome Assembly in the Phyllosphere and in Vegetable Fermentation
Published on: June 3, 2020
Stability and bioaccessibility of micronutrients and phytochemicals present in processed leek and Brussels sprouts
Flore Vancoillie1, Sarah H E Verkempinck1, Lili Sluys1
1KU Leuven Department of Microbial and Molecular Systems, Laboratory of Food Technology, Kasteelpark Arenberg 22, Box 2457, 3001 Leuven, Belgium.
Abstract:
Vegetables are frequently processed before consumption. However, vegetable functionalization continues beyond ingestion as the human digestive tract exposes vegetable products to various conditions (e.g. elevated temperature, pH alterations, enzymes, electrolytes, mechanical disintegration) which can affect the stability of micronutrients and phytochemicals. Besides the extent to which these compounds withstand the challenges posed by digestive conditions, it is equally important to consider their accessibility for potential absorption by the body. Therefore, this study investigated the impact of static in vitro digestion on the stability (i.e. concentration) and bioaccessibility of vitamin C, vitamin K1, glucosinolates, S-alk(en)yl-l-cysteine sulfoxides (ACSOs) and carotenoids in Brussels sprouts (Brassica oleracea var. gemmifera) and leek (Allium ampeloprasum var. porrum). Water-soluble compounds, glucosinolates and ACSOs, remained stable during digestion while vitamin C decreased by >48%. However, all water-soluble compounds were completely bioaccessible. Lipid-soluble compounds were also stable during digestion but were only bioaccessible for 26-81%.
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