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Updated: Jan 10, 2026

In vitro Digestion of Emulsions in a Single Droplet via Multi Subphase Exchange of Simulated Gastrointestinal Fluids
Published on: November 18, 2022
Does carotenoid acylation impact micellization during in vitro digestion of lutein-loaded casein-stabilized
Raphaela A Mantovani1, Arnaldo G Oliveira-Filho2, Cristiano L P Oliveira3
1Department of Food Science and Nutrition, School of Food Engineering, University of Campinas, Campinas, São Paulo 13083-862, Brazil.
Abstract:
Acylated carotenoids have been reported to be much less bioaccessible than their free forms. To elucidate this matter, the fate of carotenoid esters during micelle fraction (MF) recovery was investigated. Casein-stabilized emulsions with extracts majorly composed of acylated or free lutein were subjected to in vitro digestion. MF isolation was achieved by chyme centrifugation, followed by filtration of the aqueous fraction (AF). Filtration preferentially retained acylated carotenoid (>80 %). SAXS and cryo-TEM results confirmed matrix destabilization and micellization. The incorporation of free carotenoids into micelles was supported by an increase in the gyration radius and micelle aggregation. In contrast, no differences were observed for acylated carotenoids. In conclusion, although mixed micelles were present in the MF, the incorporation of acylated carotenoids into them was very limited. Moreover, acylation strongly affected carotenoid retention, demonstrating that filtration is a critical step to accurately determine carotenoid bioaccessibility.
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