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Updated: Jan 16, 2026

In vitro Digestion of Emulsions in a Single Droplet via Multi Subphase Exchange of Simulated Gastrointestinal Fluids
Published on: November 18, 2022
Impact of chitosan on lipid digestion under simulated gastro-intestinal conditions
Jinliang Zhang1, Rui Zhang1, Pengjie Wang2
1College of Food Science and Engineering, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou, Gansu, China.
Abstract:
Previous studies demonstrated chitosan's ability to inhibit free fatty acid (FFA) release in emulsions, yet its structural impacts (molecular weight, MW; deacetylation degree, DD) on lipid digestion remained unclear. This study systematically evaluated chitosan variants (MW: 3.2-670 kDa; DD: 71.2-92.5 %) under simulated gastrointestinal conditions. The results revealed that all chitosan formulations suppressed corn oil digestion to varying degrees. Notably, high molecular weight chitosan (670 kDa) with elevated DD (90 %) exhibited the strongest inhibitory activity, reducing the FFA release rate by approximately 77 %. Mechanistically, this resulted from severe emulsion flocculation limiting enzyme access, coupled with enhanced bile salt adsorption (30 % binding) and lipolysis suppression (57 % inhibition). These findings highlight MW/DD as critical determinants of chitosan's lipid-modulating efficacy, offering a strategic basis for designing functional foods targeting controlled nutrient delivery or reduced caloric uptake.
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