Nanoparticles mediated folic acid enrichment

Area of Science:

• Food Science
• Nutritional Science
• Materials Science

Background:

• Folate is vital for metabolic processes; deficiency causes disorders.
• Folic acid, a stable folate form, is used in fortified foods.
• Folate and folic acid degrade under processing and gut conditions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review methods for developing folic acid/folate-carrying nanoparticles.
• To highlight matrices used for folate nanoparticle enrichment.
• To assess the impact of nanoparticles on folate stability and bioavailability.

Main Methods:

• Review of current literature on folate-loaded nanoparticles.
• Analysis of various matrices (proteins, biopolymers) for encapsulation.
• Examination of encapsulation techniques like emulsion, spray drying, and ionic gelation.

Main Results:

• Nanoparticles prevent degradation from heat, UV, and autoclaving.
• Proteins and biopolymers effectively enhance folate bioavailability.
• Encapsulation protects folate during gut absorption.

Conclusions:

• Nanoparticle-based folate enrichment is a promising strategy for the food industry.
• Simple encapsulation methods are scalable for industrial application.
• Enhanced bioavailability and stability of folate are achieved through nanofortification.