Potassium jarosite seeding of soils decreases lead and arsenic bioaccessibility: A path toward concomitant remediation.

Soils are common sources of metal(loid) contaminant exposure globally. Lead (Pb) and arsenic (As) are of paramount concern due to detrimental neurological and carcinogenic health effects, respectively. Pb and/or As contaminated soils require remediation, typically leading to excavation, a costly and environmentally damaging practice of removing soil to a central location (e.g., hazardous landfill) that may not be a viable option in low-income countries. Chemical remediation techniques may allow for in situ conversion of soil contaminants to phases that are not easily mobilized upon ingestion; however, effective chemical remediation options are limited. Here, we have successfully tested a soil remediation technology using potted soils that relies on converting soil Pb and As into jarosite-group minerals, such as plumbojarosite (PLJ) and beudantite, possessing exceptionally low bioaccessibility [i.e., solubility at gastric pH conditions (pH 1.5 to 3)]. Across all experiments conducted, all new treatment methods successfully promoted PLJ and/or beudantite conversion, resulting in a proportional decrease in Pb and As bioaccessibility. Increasing temperature resulted in increased conversion to jarosite-group minerals, but addition of potassium (K) jarosite was most critical to Pb and As bioaccessibility decreases. Our methods of K-jarosite treatment yielded <10% Pb and As bioaccessibility compared to unamended soil values of approximately 70% and 60%, respectively. The proposed treatment is a rare dual remediation option that effectively treats soil Pb and As such that potential exposure is considerably reduced. Research presented here lays the foundation for ongoing field application.

In vitro strategies to understand the impact of oral intake on the bioavailability and bioactivity of peptides from brewing by-products.

Bioactive peptides from brewer's spent grain (BSG) and brewer's spent yeast (BSY), two by-products of the brewing industry, have great potential as functional food ingredients, dietary supplements or nutraceuticals to reduce the risk of numerous pathological conditions. Nevertheless, the oral administration of these peptides poses great challenges since peptides must undergo gastrointestinal digestion, intestinal absorption and hepatic metabolism, which can affect their bioavailability and, therefore, the expected outcomes. This review provides a comprehensive and critical analysis of the potential impact of the oral route on the bioactivity of BSG/BSY peptides as assessed by in vitro assays and identifies research gaps that require novel approaches/methodologies. The data collected indicate that in addition to the significant influence of gastrointestinal digestion, intestinal absorption and hepatic metabolism also have a major impact on the bioactivity of brewing peptides. The major gap identified was the insufficient evidence regarding hepatic metabolism, which points for the need of employing in vitro assays in this research field to provide such clarification. Thus, to reach the market, the impact of the oral route on the bioactivities of BSG/BSY peptides must be properly studied in vitro to allow adequate/effective administration (dosage/frequency) with a beneficial impact on the population health.

Polyphenolic profile, processing impact, and bioaccessibility of apple fermented products.

Health-promoting foods have become increasingly popular due to intensified consumer interest and awareness of illnesses. There is a global market for apple fruits, which are affordable, nutritious, tasty, and produced in large quantities for direct consumption as well as food processing to make derived products. The food matrix of apples is suitable for fermentation, besides containing a high amount of phenolics and polyphenols. Fermentation of apples is one of the most common methods of preserving apple fruit and its byproducts. With different fermentation techniques, apple fruit can be used to make a wide range of products, such as fermented apple juice, cider, liqueurs, apple cider, apple vinegar and fermented apple solids, because it is not only a low-cost and simple method of processing the fruit, but it can also sometimes increase the bioavailability of nutrients and the levels of components that can improve health and sensory quality. To understand the health benefits of food products and how the fermentation process impacts polyphenols, it is also crucial to observe the effects of digestion on polyphenol bioaccessibility. Polyphenolic profile changes can be observed via both in vitro and in vivo digestion methods; however, in vitro digestion methods have the advantage of observing every step of gastrointestinal track effects and have less cost as well. In this review, the polyphenolic profile, processing impact, and bioaccessibility of apple-fermented products is assessed, with most available studies showing polyphenol profiles and bioaccessibility in apple varieties and fermented apple products.

Lead Speciation, Bioaccessibility, and Sources for a Contaminated Subset of House Dust and Soils Collected from Similar United States Residences.

Residential lead (Pb) exposure is of critical concern to families globally as Pb promotes severe neurological effects in children, especially those less than 5 years old, and no blood lead level is deemed safe by the US Center for Disease Control. House dust and soils are commonly thought to be important sources of Pb exposure. Probing the relationship between house dust and soil Pb is critical to understanding residential exposure, as Pb bioavailability is highly influenced by Pb sources and/or species. We investigated paired house dust and soil collected from homes built before 1978 to determine Pb speciation, source, and bioaccessibility with the primary goal of assessing chemical factors driving Pb exposure in residential media. House dust was predominately found to contain (hydro)cerussite (i.e., Pb (hydroxy)carbonate) phases commonly used in Pb-based paint that, in-turn, promoted elevated bioaccessibility (>60%). Pb X-ray absorption spectroscopy, µ-XRF mapping, and Pb isotope ratio analysis for house dust and soils support house dust Pb as chemically unique compared to exterior soils, although paint Pb is expected to be a major source for both. Soil pedogenesis and increased protection from environmental conditions (e.g., weathering) in households is expected to greatly impact Pb phase differences between house dust and soils, subsequently dictating differences in Pb exposure.

Low ß-carotene bioaccessibility and bioavailability from high fat, dairy-based meal.

PURPOSE: The original aim of the study was to determine, in a double-blind 3-arm crossover human trial (n = 7), the effect of supplemental levels of iron (25 mg) and zinc (30 mg) on ß-carotene (synthetic) bioavailability (10 h postprandial). However, despite the high dose of supplemental ß-carotene (15 mg) consumed with the high fat (18 g), dairy-based breakfast test meal, there was a negligible postprandial response in plasma and triglyceride rich fraction ß-carotene concentrations. We then systematically investigated the possible reasons for this low bioavailability of ß-carotene. METHODS: We determined (1) if the supplemental ß-carotene could be micellised and absorbed by epithelial cells, using a Caco-2 cell model, (2) if the fat from the test meal was sufficiently bioavailable to facilitate ß-carotene bioavailability, (3) the extent to which the ß-carotene could have been metabolised and converted to retinoic acid/retinol and (4) the effect of the test meal matrix on the ß-carotene bioaccessibility (in vitro digestion) and Caco-2 cellular uptake. RESULTS: We found that (1) The supplemental ß-carotene could be micellised and absorbed by epithelial cells, (2) the postprandial plasma triacylglycerol response was substantial (approximately 75-100 mg dL-1 over 10 h), indicating sufficient lipid bioavailability to ensure ß-carotene absorption, (3) the high fat content of the meal (approximately 18 g) could have resulted in increased ß-carotene metabolism, (4) ß-carotene bioaccessibility from the dairy-based test meal was sixfold lower (p < 0.05) than when digested with olive oil. CONCLUSION: The low ß-carotene bioavailability is probably due to a combination of the metabolism of ß-carotene to retinol by BCMO1 and interactions of ß-carotene with the food matrix, decreasing the bioaccessibility. TRAIL REGISTRATION: The human trail was retrospectively registered (ClinicalTrail.gov ID: NCT05840848).

Health risk assessment of heavy metal(loid)s in road dust via dermal exposure pathway from a low latitude plateau provincial capital city: The importance of toxicological verification.

The human health risk assessment through the dermal exposure of metal (loid)s in dust from low latitude and high geological background plateau cities was largely unknown. In this study, the road dust samples were harvested from a typical low-latitude plateau provincial capital city Kunming, Southwest China. The total concentration and dermal bioaccessibility of heavy metal (loid)s in road dust were determined, and their health risks as well as cytotoxicity on human skin keratinocytes were also assessed. The average concentrations of As (28.5 mg/kg), Cd (2.65 mg/kg), Mn (671 mg/kg), and Zn (511 mg/kg) exceeded the soil background values. Arsenic had the highest bioaccessibility after 2 h (3.79%), 8 h (4.24%), and 24 h (16.6%) extraction. The dermal pathway when bioaccessibility is considered has a higher hazard quotient than the conventional method using total metal(loid)s in the dust. In addition, toxicological verification suggested that the dust extracts suppressed the cell viability, increased the reactive oxygen species (ROS) level and DNA damage, and eventually activated the mitochondria-mediated apoptosis pathway, evidenced by the upregulation of Caspase-3/9, Bax, and Bak-1. Cadmium was positively correlated with the mRNA expression of Bax. Taken together, our data indicated that both dermal bioaccessibility and cytotoxicity should be considered for accurate human skin health risk assessment of heavy metal(loid)s in road dust, which may provide new insight for accurate human health risk assessment and environmental management.

Assessing health risks from bioaccessible PM2.5-bound toxic metals in Nanchang metro: Implications for metro workers and emissions control.

High concentrations of PM2.5 with enriched levels of metallic constituents could significantly affect the health and comfort of metro employees. To avoid overestimating the exposure risks, we investigated the bioaccessibility of toxic metals (TMs) bound in PM2.5 from the Nanchang metro using Gamble's solution method, and qualitatively analyzed the impact of valence state and various sources on the bioaccessibility of TMs bound to PM2.5. The results showed that the bioaccessibility of the studied TMs ranged from 2.1% to 88.1%, with As, Ba, Co and Pb being the most bioaccessible and V, Fe and Cr being the less bioaccessible. The bioaccessibility of TMs in our subway PM2.5 samples varied based on their valence and species, showing higher valence states associated with increased bioaccessibility. Vehicle traffic, secondary aerosols and wheel/rail sources were found to be significantly and positively associated with the bioaccessibility of several TMs, implying a severe potential risk from these three sources. Although both non-carcinogenic and carcinogenic risks associated with total TMs were found to be high, only As and Cr(VI) posed a considerable carcinogenic risk to metro workers based on the bioaccessible fractions and were therefore priority pollutants. In addition, potential carcinogenic risk was found to be more severe in platform than that in ticket counter. The results indicate that considerable efforts are required to control and manage PM2.5 and the associated TMs in the Nanchang subway, particularly from traffic, wheel/rail and secondary sources, to protect the health of metro staff and the public.

Carcinogenic metal(loid)s in house dust compared to soil: Concentrations and gastric bioaccessibility.

As a sink and a source of chemicals, house dust represents a relevant medium to assess indoor exposure to metal(loid)s via incidental ingestion or inhalation. However, nationally representative indoor data are scarce. Results from the Canadian House Dust Study (CHDS, 2007-2010; n = 1025) provide nationally representative mean, median and 95th percentile concentrations for 38 elements in typical urban house dust, along with their gastric bioaccessibility. Total concentrations (median/95th percentile) of carcinogenic metal(loid)s in Canadian house dust (µg g-1) are as follows: As (9.0/40), Be (0.4/0.9), Cd (3.5/17), Co (5.6/19), Cr (99/214), Ni (62/322) and Pb (100/760). Total As and Pb concentrations in house dust exceed residential soil guidelines for the protection of human health in about one-third of Canadian homes. Percent bioaccessibilities (median) are: Cd (65%) > Pb (63%) > Be âˆ¼ Ni (36%) > Co (35%) > As (20%) > Cr (15%). Lead, Cd and Co concentrations are significantly greater in older houses (< 1976). Data from two pilot studies (n = 66 + 51) further demonstrate the distinct geochemistry of house dust compared to soils, notably enrichment of carcinogenic metal(loid)s and their increased bioaccessibility. These results provide essential baseline values to refine risk assessment and inform on health risk at contaminated sites.

Current and New Insights on Delivery Systems for Plant Sterols in Food.

Plant sterols are minor bioactive components of food lipids, which are often used for the formulation of functional foods due to their cholesterol-lowering properties. However, they have low solubility and tend to crystallize, which may affect their biological effects, the sensory profile of the sterol-enriched food, and its consumer acceptability. Moreover, due to the unsaturated structure of sterols, they are susceptible to oxidation, so different encapsulation systems have been developed to improve their dispersibility/solubility, stability, delivery, and bioaccessibility. This chapter provides an overview of the main encapsulation systems currently used for plant sterols and their application in model and food systems, with a particular focus on their efficiency and impact on sterol bioaccessibility.

Predigested Mixture of Arachidonic and Docosahexaenoic Acids for Better Bio-Accessibility.

A predigested product from arachidonic acid oil (ARA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) oil in a 2:1 (w/w) ratio has been developed and evaluated in an in vitro digestion model. To produce this predigested lipid mixture, first, the two oils were enzymatically hydrolyzed up to 90% of free fatty acids (FFAs) were achieved. Then, these two fatty acid (FA) mixtures were mixed in a 2:1 ARA-to-DHA ratio (w/w) and enzymatically esterified with glycerol to produce a mixture of FFAs, mono-, di-, and triacylglycerides. Different glycerol ratios and temperatures were evaluated. The best results were attained at 10 °C and a glycerol-to-FA molar ratio of 3:1. The bio-accessibility of this predigested mixture was studied in an in vitro digestion model. A total of 90% of the digestion product was found in the micellar phase, which contained 30% monoacylglycerides, more than 50% FFAs, and a very small amount of triacylglycerols (3% w/w). All these data indicate an excellent bio-accessibility of this predigested mixture.

Using oral bioaccessibility measurements to refine risk assessment of potentially toxic elements in topsoils across an urban area.

Elevated concentrations of As, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb, V and Zn in topsoils in Belfast, Northern Ireland have been found to exceed assessment criteria in the city and therefore may pose a risk to human health. Most generic assessment criteria (GAC) for potentially toxic elements (PTEs) in soils assume PTEs are 100% bioavailable to humans. Here we use in-vitro oral bioaccessibility testing using the Unified BARGE method (UBM) to measure what proportion of soil contamination dissolves in the digestive tract and therefore is available for absorption by the body. This study considers how PTE bioaccessibility in soils varies spatially across urban areas and refines human health risk assessment for these PTEs using site specific oral bioaccessibility results to present the first regional assessment of risk that incorporates bioaccessibility testing. A total of 103 urban soil samples were selected for UBM testing. Results showed low bioaccessible fraction (BAF) for the PTEs from geogenic sources: Cr (0.45-5.9%), Ni (1.1-46.3%) and V (2.2-23.9%). Higher BAF values were registered for PTEs from anthropogenic sources: As (8.0-86.9%), Cu (3.4-67.8%), Pb (9.1-106.2%) and Zn (2.4-77.5%). Graphs of bioaccessibility adjusted assessment criteria (BAAC) were derived for each urban land use type and PTE. These provide a visual representation of the significance of oral bioaccessibility when deriving BAAC and how this is affected by 1) dominant exposure pathways for each land use and 2) relative harm posed from exposure to PTEs via each pathway, allowing oral bioaccessibility research to be targeted to contaminants and pathways that most significantly impact risk assessment. Pb was the most widespread contaminant with 16.5% of sites exceeding the Pb GAC. Applying BAAC did not significantly change risk evaluation for these samples as many had Pb BAF>50%. In contrast, all samples that exceeded the As GAC were found to no longer exceed a minimal level of risk when oral bioaccessibility was considered. Oral bioaccessibility testing resulted in a 45% reduction in the number of sites identified as posing a potential risk to human health.

Can arsenic bioavailability be predicted in soils using in vitro gastro-intestinal simulation?

Many gastrointestinal simulation methods have been used to predict bioavailability, but the suitability of different methods for the same metal(loid)s varies widely, which inevitably affects the accuracy of human health risk assessment. Arsenic is a common and important contaminant in many contaminated land situations. It can be readily absorbed and has teratogenic and mutagenic toxicity. Therefore, in this study, four the most commonly used in vitro simulation methods (the Physiologically Based Extraction Test (PBET), In Vitro Gastrointestinal Method (IVG), Soluble Bioavailability Research Consortium (SBRC), the Unified BARGE Method (UBM)) were tested against an in vivo animal live model, to evaluate their effectiveness for the prediction of soil As bioavailability in 10 industrially contaminated soils. The soil As relative bioavailability (RBA) varied between 15% and 68% in the different soils. As bioaccessibility differed between the 4 gastro-intestinal simulation methods. Gastric phase of UBM (UBMG) predicted As relative bioavailability the best of the 4 assays (R2 = 0.81). This study provides theoretical and technical support to refine human health risk assessment of As in soils from urban industrial legacy contaminated sites.

Toxicokinetics of selenate in earthworm sub-tissues and potential bio-accessibility assessment of earthworm-derived selenium.

Selenium (Se) pollution is mainly caused by anthropogenic activities, and the resulting biosecurity concerns have garnered significant attention in recent years. Using one-compartmental toxicokinetic (TK) modelling, this study explored the kinetic absorption, sub-tissue distribution, and elimination processes of the main Se species (selenate, Se(VI)) in the cultivated aerobic soil of the earthworm Eisenia fetida. The bio-accessibility of earthworm-derived Se was assessed using an in vitro simulated gastrointestinal digestion test to evaluate its potential trophic risk. The results demonstrated that Se accumulated in the pre-clitellum (PC) and total tissues (TT) of earthworms in a time- and dose-dependent manner. The highest Se levels in the PC, post-clitellum (PoC), and TT were 70.54, 57.93, and 64.26 mg/kg during the uptake phase, respectively. The kinetic Se contents in the earthworms PC and TT were consistent with the TK model but not with PoC. The earthworm TT exhibited a faster uptake (Kus = 0.83-1.02 mg/kg/day) and elimination rate of Se (Kee = 0.044-0.049 mg/kg/day), as well as a shorter half-life time (LT1/2 = 15.88-14.22 days) than PC at low soil Se levels (≤5 mg/kg). Conversely, the opposite trend was observed with higher Se concentrations (10 and 20 mg/kg). These results are likely attributable to the tissue specificity and concentration of the toxicant. Earthworms PC and TT exhibited a higher kinetic Se accumulation factor (BAFk) than steady-state BAF (BAFss), with values ranging from 8 to 24 and 3-13, respectively. Furthermore, the bio-accessibility of earthworm-derived Se to poultry ranged from 66.25 % to 84.35 %. As earthworms are at the bottom of the terrestrial food chain, the high bio-accessibility of earthworm-derived Se poses a potential risk to predators. This study offers data support and a theoretical foundation for understanding the biological footprint of soil Se and its toxicological impacts and ecological hazards.

Prediction of the bioaccessibility and accumulation of cadmium in the soil-rice-human system based on optimized DGT and BCR coupled models.

Cadmium, as a typical heavy metal, has the potential to induce soil pollution and threaten human health through the soil-plant-human pathway. The conventional evaluation method based on the total content in soil cannot accurately represent the content migrated from the food chain to plants and the human body. Previous studies focused on the process of plant enrichment of heavy metals in soil, and very few studies directly predicted human exposure or risk through the labile state of Cd in soil. Hence, a relatively accurate and convenient prediction model of Cd release and translocation in the soil-rice-human system was developed. This model utilizes available Cd and soil parameters to predict the bioavailability of Cd in soil, as well as the in vitro bioaccessibility of Cd in cooked rice. The bioavailability of Cd was determined by the Diffusive Gradients in Thin-films technology and BCR sequential extraction procedure, offering in-situ quantification, which presents a significant advantage over traditional monitoring methods and aligns closely with the actual uptake of heavy metals by plants. The experimental results show that the prediction model based on the concentration of heavy metal forms measured by BCR sequential extraction procedure and diffusive gradients in thin-films technique can accurately predict the Cd uptake in rice grains, gastric and gastrointestinal phase (R2=0.712, 0.600 and 0.629). This model accurately predicts Cd bioavailability and bioaccessibility across the soil-rice-human pathway, informing actual human Cd intake, offering scientific support for developing more effective risk assessment methods.

Quantitative Analysis of Bioaccessible Phenolic Compounds in Aegean Bee Bread Using LC-HRMS Coupled with a Human Digestive System Model.

Bee bread, a valuable bee product that has recently attracted significant public interest as a nutritional supplement. The aim of this study was to evaluate the presence of phenolic compounds in bee bread samples from the Aegean Region and assess their bioaccessibility using a simulated human digestion model. Various extraction techniques, such as maceration, ultrasound-assisted extraction, and supercritical fluid extraction were employed to obtain extracts of bee bread. The antioxidant capabilities of these extracts were carried out using assays like DPPH⋅, ABTS⋅+ , CUPRAC, and ß-carotene linoleic acid bleaching, and their effectiveness was quantified through IC50 values. The bioaccessibility of phenolic compounds was analysed by using LC-HRMS in a simulated human digestive system using ethanol extracts obtained from bee bread samples of each season by ultrasound-assisted extraction, which has the highest antioxidant activity. In the Aegean bee bread, a total of 25 phenolic compounds which were major phenolics including quercetin, ascorbic acid, isorhamnetin, kaempferol, and hyperoside were identified and quantified. Also, ascorbic acid was the one of the most bioaccessible compounds with the bioaccessibility index 35.38 % for 2021, 16.79 % for 2022. These findings underscore the substantial transformation of the phenolic profile of bee bread as it traverses the human digestive system.

Enhancement of Astaxanthin Bioaccessibility by Encapsulation in Liposomes: An In Vitro Study.

Astaxanthin was encapsulated in liposomes by a thin layer dispersion and ultrasound method using soybean phospholipid. The digestion properties of liposomes for encapsulating astaxanthin were investigated in light of particle size, size distribution, zeta potential, and microstructure during in vitro digestion as a function of time. These results exhibited that the average particle size increased gradually with liposomal vesicles retained round shapes and a fairly uniform distribution after passage through the simulated gastric fluid digestion. The result revealed that astaxanthin-loaded liposomes were stable in low pH conditions. It was also found that the mixed micelles formed in a simulated intestinal fluid. The zeta potential of astaxanthin-loaded liposomes had a decrease in negativity after digestion. In comparison with free astaxanthin, there was an appreciable increase in the bioaccessibility of astaxanthin after encapsulation in liposomes. This enhancement can be attributed to more soluble astaxanthin in the mixed micelles for astaxanthin-loaded liposomes. It indicated that the barrier of the liposomal bilayer could inhibit astaxanthin fading and leaking after encapsulation in liposomes. These results provide useful information for designing more stable delivery systems in the gastrointestinal tract and improving the bioaccessibility of lipophilic nutraceuticals.

Vitamin D3 Bioaccessibility from Supplements and Foods-Gastric pH Effect Using a Static In Vitro Gastrointestinal Model.

Vitamin D3 deficiency is a global phenomenon, which can be managed with supplementation and food fortification. However, vitamin D3 bioaccessibility may depend on factors such as matrix composition and interactions throughout the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. This research focused on the effect of different matrices on vitamin D3 content during digestion, as well as the effect of pH on its bioaccessibility. The INFOGEST protocol was employed to simulate digestion. Three different types of commercial supplements, two foods naturally rich in vitamin D3, and three fortified foods were investigated. High-Performance Liquid Chromatography was used to determine the initial vitamin D3 content in the supplements and foods, as well as after each digestion stage. The results indicate that the foods exhibited higher bioaccessibility indices compared to the supplements and a higher percentage retention at the end of the gastric phase. The pH study revealed a positive correlation between an increased gastric pH and the corresponding content of vitamin D3. Interestingly, exposing the matrix to a low pH during the gastric phase resulted in an increased intestinal content of D3. Vitamin D3 is more bioaccessible from foods than supplements, and its bioaccessibility is susceptible to changes in gastric pH. Fasting conditions (i.e., gastric pH = 1) enhance the vitamin's bioaccessibility.

In Vitro Assessment of Cortisol Release Inhibition, Bioaccessibility and Bioavailability of a Chemically Characterized Scutellaria lateriflora L. Hydroethanolic Extract.

Excess cortisol release is associated with numerous health concerns, including psychiatric issues (i.e., anxiety, insomnia, and depression) and nonpsychiatric issues (i.e., osteoporosis). The aim of this study was to assess the in vitro inhibition of cortisol release, bioaccessibility, and bioavailability exerted by a chemically characterized Scutellaria lateriflora L. extract (SLE). The treatment of H295R cells with SLE at increasing, noncytotoxic, concentrations (5-30 ng/mL) showed significant inhibition of cortisol release ranging from 58 to 91%. The in vitro simulated gastric, duodenal, and gastroduodenal digestions, induced statistically significant reductions (p < 0.0001) in the bioactive polyphenolic compounds that most represented SLE. Bioavailability studies on duodenal digested SLE, using Caco-2 cells grown on transwell inserts and a parallel artificial membrane permeability assay, indicated oroxylin A glucuronide and oroxylin A were the only bioactive compounds able to cross the Caco-2 cell membrane and the artificial lipid membrane, respectively. The results suggest possible applications of SLE as a food supplement ingredient against cortisol-mediated stress response and the use of gastroresistant oral dosage forms to partially prevent the degradation of SLE bioactive compounds. In vivo studies and clinical trials remain necessary to draw a conclusion on the efficacy and tolerability of this plant extract.

Whey Protein Sodium-Caseinate as a Deliverable Vector for EGCG: In Vitro Optimization of Its Bioaccessibility, Bioavailability, and Bioactivity Mode of Actions.

Epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), the principal catechin in green tea, exhibits diverse therapeutic properties. However, its clinical efficacy is hindered by poor stability and low bioavailability. This study investigated solid particle-in-oil-in-water (S/O/W) emulsions stabilized by whey protein isolate (WPI) and sodium caseinate (NaCas) as carriers to enhance the bioavailability and intestinal absorption of EGCG. Molecular docking revealed binding interactions between EGCG and these macromolecules. The WPI- and NaCas-stabilized emulsions exhibited high encapsulation efficiencies (>80%) and significantly enhanced the bioaccessibility of EGCG by 64% compared to free EGCG after simulated gastrointestinal digestion. Notably, the NaCas emulsion facilitated higher intestinal permeability of EGCG across Caco-2 monolayers, attributed to the strong intermolecular interactions between caseins and EGCG. Furthermore, the emulsions protected Caco-2 cells against oxidative stress by suppressing intracellular reactive oxygen species generation. These findings demonstrate the potential of WPI- and NaCas-stabilized emulsions as effective delivery systems to improve the bioavailability, stability, and bioactivity of polyphenols like EGCG, enabling their applications in functional foods and nutraceuticals.

High-Pressure Processing of Fruit Smoothies Enriched with Dietary Fiber from Carrot Discards: Effects on the Contents and Bioaccessibilities of Carotenoids and Vitamin E.

The effects of high-pressure processing (HPP) (450 MPa/600 MPa/3 min) on the carotenoid and vitamin E contents of smoothies made from strawberry, orange juice, banana and apple, and the same smoothies enriched with dietary fiber from discarded carrots were compared. The contents and bioaccessibilities of these compounds were also evaluated over the course of 28 days at 4 °C. The application of HPP in the formulations significantly increased the contents of ß-cryptoxanthin, α-carotene and ß-carotene and retained the contents of lutein, zeaxanthin and vitamin E compared to untreated samples. A decreasing trend in the content of each compound was observed with an increase in storage time. The application of HPP initially led to reductions in the bioaccessibility of individual compounds. However, overall, during storage, there was an increase in bioaccessibility. This suggests that HPP influences cell structure, favoring compound release and micelle formation. HPP is a sustainable method that preserves or enhances carotenoid extractability in ready-to-drink fruit beverages. Furthermore, the incorporation of dietary fiber from carrot processing discards supports circular economy practices and enhances the health potential of the product.