Soy lecithin increases the stability and lipolysis of encapsulated algal oil and probiotics complex coacervates
Weiqian Zhang, Ying Chen, Weifei Wang, Dongming Lan, Yonghua Wang
Abstract
Abstract BACKGROUND Co‐encapsulation of probiotics and omega‐3 oil using complex coacervation is an effective method for enhancing the tolerance of probiotics under adverse conditions, whereas complex coacervation of omega‐3 oil was found to have low lipid digestibility. In the present study, gelatin (GE, 30 g kg −1 ) and gum arabic (GA, 30 g kg −1 ) were used to encapsulate Lactobacillus plantarum WCFS1 and algal oil by complex coacervation to produce microcapsules containing probiotics (GE‐P‐GA) and co‐microcapsules containing probiotics and algal oil (GE‐P‐O‐GA), and soy lecithin (SL) was added to probiotics‐algal oil complex coacervates [GE‐P‐O(SL)‐GA] to enhance its stability and lipolysis. Then, we evaluated the viability of different microencapsulated probiotics exposed to freeze‐drying and long‐term storage, as well as the survival rate and release performance of encapsulated probiotics and algal oil during in vitro digestion. RESULTS GE‐P‐O(SL)‐GA had a smaller particle size (51.20 μm), as well as higher freeze‐drying survival (90.06%) of probiotics and encapsulation efficiency of algal oil (75.74%). Moreover, GE‐P‐O(SL)‐GA showed a higher algal oil release rate (79.54%), lipolysis degree (74.63%) and docosahexaenoic acid lipolysis efficiency (64.8%) in the in vitro digestion model. The viability of microencapsulated probiotics after simulated digestion and long‐term storage at −18,4 and 25 °C was in the order: GE‐P‐O(SL)‐GA > GE‐P‐O‐GA > GE‐P‐GA. CONCLUSION As a result of its amphiphilic properties, SL strongly affected the physicochemical properties of probiotics and algal oil complex coacervates, resulting in higher stability and more effective lipolysis. Thus, the GE‐P‐O(SL)‐GA can more effectively deliver probiotics and docosahexaenoic acid to the intestine, which provides a reference for the preparation of high‐viability and high‐lipolysis probiotics‐algal oil microcapsules. © 2022 Society of Chemical Industry.