title: Influence of physical state of β-carotene (crystallized versus solubilized) on bioaccessibility.
abstract: β-Carotene has potentially beneficial biological effects. However, its use is currently limited because of its low water-solubility, high melting point, and low oral bioavailability. This study investigated the influence of physical state (crystalline versus solubilized) on the bioaccessibility of β-carotene using a simulated gastrointestinal tract (GIT) model. Three delivery systems were compared: (1) β-carotene predissolved in a nanoemulsion; (2) β-carotene crystals mixed with a nanoemulsion; and (3) β-carotene crystals mixed with a phosphate-buffered saline (PBS). The changes in the microstructure of the delivery systems were characterized after each stage of the GIT model. The β-carotene bioaccessibility decreased in the order of delivery system 1 ≫ 2 > 3, which indicated that carotenoids solubilized within a oil phase were much more bioaccessible than those that formed crystals. This study provides important information for developing effective delivery systems for lipophilic bioactive components in food and beverage applications.
authors.affiliation: Department of Food Science, University of Massachusetts , Amherst, Massachusetts 01003, United States.
authors.forename: Ziyuan
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Xia
authors.forename: David Julian
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: McClements
authors.forename: Hang
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Xiao
mesh_terms: D001682:Biological Availability; D003460:Crystallization; D004063:Digestion; D016503:Drug Delivery Systems; D004655:Emulsions; D041981:Gastrointestinal Tract / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D008954:Models, Biological; D012995:Solubility; D019207:beta Carotene / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*
chemical_list: D004655:Emulsions; D019207:beta Carotene
keywords: bioaccessibility; crystallization; delivery systems; digestion; nanoemulsions; solubilization; β-carotene