title: Stability of microencapsulated L-5-methyltetrahydrofolate in fortified noodles.
abstract: Here we report on the comparative stability of free and microencapsulated L-5-methyltetrahydrofolate (L-5-MTHF) with free folic acid (FA) when exposed to thermal cooking conditions that are common to noodle making. Fortifying noodle flour with free L-5-MTHF produced the greatest loss of the vitamin when noodles were cooked. In contrast, the percentage recovery of microencapsulated L-5-MTHF in both fresh and cooked noodles was not significantly different to noodles that were similarly processed with fortified FA. The addition of sodium ascorbate along with L-5-MTHF enabled a sustained stability of the folate after boiling, and also after frying. The dispersal of microencapsulated folate in flour showed better homogeneity compared to similar practices used with free form L-5-MTHF and FA, respectively. We conclude that microencapsulating L-5-MTHF along with sodium ascorbate is effective to produce a stable folate in fortified noodles, a staple food for Asian populations that may require improved dietary folate intake.
authors.affiliation: Food Nutrition and Health, University of British Columbia, 2205 East Mall, Vancouver, B.C. V6T 1Z4, Canada.
authors.forename: Yazheng
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Food Nutrition and Health, University of British Columbia, 2205 East Mall, Vancouver, B.C. V6T 1Z4, Canada.
authors.forename: Timothy J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Green
authors.affiliation: Food Nutrition and Health, University of British Columbia, 2205 East Mall, Vancouver, B.C. V6T 1Z4, Canada. Electronic address: ddkitts@mail.ubc.ca.
authors.forename: David D
authors.initials: DD
authors.lastname: Kitts
mesh_terms: D001205:Ascorbic Acid / Q000737:chemistry*; D001682:Biological Availability; D003296:Cooking; D004339:Drug Compounding; D005433:Flour / Q000032:analysis*; D005492:Folic Acid / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry; D005504:Food Analysis / Q000379:methods*; D013763:Tetrahydrofolates / Q000737:chemistry*; D014867:Water / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D013763:Tetrahydrofolates; D014867:Water; D005492:Folic Acid; D001205:Ascorbic Acid; C005984:5-methyltetrahydrofolate
keywords: Folic acid; Fortification; L-5-methyltetrahydrofolate; Microencapsulation; Modified starch; Noodles; Sodium ascorbate; Stability