Inhibition of 2-EPA monoacylglycerol acyl migration during in vitro digestion using emulsion-based and internal...

The acyl migration of 2-eicosapentaenoic acid monoacylglycerol (2-EPA MAG) during digestion can affect the absorption of EPA. However, there is a lack of research exploring methods to decrease the acyl migration during digestion. In this study, the impact of encapsulating 2-EPA MAGs within colloidal delivery systems on acyl migration and EPA bioaccessibility under in vitro digestion was investigated. The 2-MAGs structured lipid droplets of oil-in-water emulsions stabilized by sodium caseinate, egg protein, soybean phospholipid, quillaja saponin, and Tween 20. X-ray scattering and cryo-electron microscopy analysis showed that the lipid phase in these delivery systems existed in a L₂ phase-dominated state. The emulsions stabilized by the saponin (83.9 %) and the caseinate (80.1 %) had higher percentages of the MAGs in the sn-2 form, as well as higher bioaccessibilities than non-encapsulated 2-EPA MAGs. This effect was partly attributed to differences in the liquid crystalline structure of these emulsions in the gastrointestinal environment.