Formation, stability and antioxidant activity of food-grade multilayer emulsions containing resveratrol

Interfacial deposition of biopolymer layers on oil droplets may be a suitable strategy for increasing the emulsion stability and protection of functional ingredients. Resveratrol is a naturally occurring phenolic compound with numerous health-promoting properties, but its usage is still restricted due to its poor water solubility and high chemical instability. The aim of this study was to formulate single-layer (lactoferrin) and multilayer (lactoferrin/alginate and lactoferrin/alginate/-poly-l-lysine) emulsions containing resveratrol and to study the emulsions stability and antioxidant activity during storage. All primary (single-layer) emulsions had average droplet diameters below 300 nm and -potentials strongly positive, allowing the electrostatic deposition of another layer of anionic biopolymer, such as alginate. Secondary (multilayer) emulsions were highly unstable at low alginate concentrations, which was attributed to the bridging flocculation. At higher alginate concentrations, secondary emulsions were rather stable. Tertiary emulsions containing either low or high -poly-l-lysine concentrations presented flocculation, but formulations with 0.0036% (w/w) were fairly stable. The antioxidant activity of all resveratrol-loaded emulsions did not significantly change during storage, whereas it decreased in non-encapsulated resveratrol oil from the third week onwards. This study provides useful information for the design of delivery systems for resveratrol with relevance in food applications.This research was supported by the Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación (Spain) throughout the projects AGL2009-11475 and ALG2012-35635, and by the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT) under the scope of the strategic funding of UID/BIO/04469/2013 unit and COMPETE 2020 (POCI-01-0145-FEDER-006684), Project RECI/BBB-EBI/0179/2012 (FCOMP-01-0124- FEDER-027462) and FCT Strategic Project of UID/BIO/04469/2013 unit. The authors also thank the Project “BioInd - Biotechnology and Bioengineering for improved Industrial and Agro-Food processes, REF. NORTE-07-0124-FEDER-000028” Co-funded by the Programa Operacional Regional do Norte (ON.2 e O Novo Norte), QREN, FEDER. The author A. Acevedo-Fani thanks the University of Lleida for the pre-doctoral grant. The author H. D. Silva, (SFRH/BD/81288/2011) is the recipient of a fellowship from the Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia (FCT, Portugal). The authors would like to acknowledge to Rui Fernandes from IBMC, University of Porto, for assistance in taking the TEM microphotographs.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Glycaemic Response to a Nut-Enriched Diet in Asian Chinese Adults with Normal or High Glycaemia: The Tū Ora RCT

\ua9 2024 by the authors. Nut-based products are a good source of high-quality plant protein in addition to mono- and polyunsaturated fatty acids, and may aid low-glycaemic dietary strategies important for the prevention of type 2 diabetes (T2D). In particular, they may be advantageous in populations susceptible to dysglycaemia, such as Asian Chinese. The present study aimed to compare effects of a higher-protein nut bar (HP-NB, also higher in total fibre and unsaturated fats, comprising mixed almonds and peanuts) vs. an isoenergetic higher-carbohydrate cereal bar (HC-CB) within the diet of 101 Chinese adults with overweight and normo- or hyperglycaemia. Ectopic pancreas and liver fat were characterised using magnetic resonance imaging and spectroscopy (MRI/S) as a secondary outcome. Participants were randomized to receive HP-NB or HC-CB daily as a 1 MJ light meal or snack replacement, in addition to healthy eating advice. Anthropometry and clinical indicators of T2D risk were assessed fasted and during an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT), pre- and post-intervention. No significant difference was observed between diet groups for body weight, body mass index, waist or hip circumference, blood pressure, glucoregulatory markers, lipid profile or inflammatory markers over 12 weeks (all, p > 0.05). No difference was observed between glycaemic subgroups or those with normal versus high ectopic organ fat. Although HP-NB can attenuate postprandial glycaemia following a meal, no effects were observed for either fasting or glucose-mediated outcomes following longer-term inclusion in the habitual diet of Chinese adults with overweight, including at-risk subgroups

Perspectives on utilization of edible coatings and nano-laminate coatings for extension of postharvest storage of fruits and vegetables

It is known that in developing countries, a large quantity of fruit and vegetable losses results at postharvest and processing stages due to poor or scarce storage technology and mishandling during harvest. The use of new and innovative technologies for reducing postharvest losses is a requirement that has not been fully covered. The use of edible coatings (mainly based on biopolymers) as a postharvest technique for agricultural commodities has offered biodegradable alternatives in order to solve problems (e.g., microbiological growth) during produce storage. However, biopolymer-based coatings can present some disadvantages such as: poor mechanical properties (e.g., lipids) or poor water vapor barrier properties (e.g., polysaccharides), thus requiring the development of new alternatives to solve these drawbacks. Recently, nanotechnology has emerged as a promising tool in the food processing industry, providing new insights about postharvest technologies on produce storage. Nanotechnological approaches can contribute through the design of functional packing materials with lower amounts of bioactive ingredients, better gas and mechanical properties and with reduced impact on the sensorial qualities of the fruits and vegetables. This work reviews some of the main factors involved in postharvest losses and new technologies for extension of postharvest storage of fruits and vegetables, focused on perspective uses of edible coatings and nano-laminate coatings.María L. Flores-López thanks Mexican Science and Technology Council (CONACYT, Mexico) for PhD fellowship support (CONACYT Grant Number: 215499/310847). Miguel A. Cerqueira (SFRH/BPD/72753/2010) is recipient of a fellowship from the Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia (FCT, POPH-QREN and FSE Portugal). The authors also thank the FCT Strategic Project of UID/ BIO/04469/2013 unit, the project RECI/BBB-EBI/0179/2012 (FCOMP-01-0124-FEDER-027462) and the project ‘‘BioInd Biotechnology and Bioengineering for improved Industrial and AgroFood processes,’’ REF. NORTE-07-0124-FEDER-000028 Co-funded by the Programa Operacional Regional do Norte (ON.2 – O Novo Norte), QREN, FEDER. Fundação Cearense de Apoio ao Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico – FUNCAP, CE Brazil (CI10080-00055.01.00/13)

Nature-Assembled Structures for Delivery of Bioactive Compounds and Their Potential in Functional Foods

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Ruminant Milk-Derived Extracellular Vesicles: A Nutritional and Therapeutic Opportunity?

Milk has been shown to contain a specific fraction of extracellular particles that are reported to resist digestion and are purposefully packaged with lipids, proteins, and nucleic acids to exert specific biological effects. These findings suggest that these particles may have a role in the quality of infant nutrition, particularly in the early phase of life when many of the foundations of an infant’s potential for health and overall wellness are established. However, much of the current research focuses on human or cow milk only, and there is a knowledge gap in how milk from other species, which may be more commonly consumed in different regions, could also have these reported biological effects. Our review provides a summary of the studies into the extracellular particle fraction of milk from a wider range of ruminants and pseudo-ruminants, focusing on how this fraction is isolated and characterised, the stability and uptake of the fraction, and the reported biological effects of these fractions in a range of model systems. As the individual composition of milk from different species is known to differ, we propose that the extracellular particle fraction of milk from non-traditional and minority species may also have important and distinct biological properties that warrant further study