Microencapsulated and Ready-to-Eat Beetroot Soup: A Stable and Attractive Formulation Enriched in Nitrate, Betalains and Minerals
Lucileno Rodrigues da Trindade,
Diego dos Santos Baião,
Davi Vieira Teixeira da Silva,
Cristine Couto Almeida,
Fernanda Petzold Pauli,
Vitor Francisco Ferreira,
Carlos Adam Conte-Junior,
Vania Margaret Flosi Paschoalin
Affiliations
Lucileno Rodrigues da Trindade
Laboratory of Advanced Analysis in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (LAABBM), Department of Biochemistry, Chemistry Institute, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Avenida Athos da Silveira Ramos 149, Cidade Universitaria, Rio de Janeiro 21941-909, Brazil
Diego dos Santos Baião
Laboratory of Advanced Analysis in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (LAABBM), Department of Biochemistry, Chemistry Institute, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Avenida Athos da Silveira Ramos 149, Cidade Universitaria, Rio de Janeiro 21941-909, Brazil
Davi Vieira Teixeira da Silva
Laboratory of Advanced Analysis in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (LAABBM), Department of Biochemistry, Chemistry Institute, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Avenida Athos da Silveira Ramos 149, Cidade Universitaria, Rio de Janeiro 21941-909, Brazil
Cristine Couto Almeida
Laboratory of Advanced Analysis in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (LAABBM), Department of Biochemistry, Chemistry Institute, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Avenida Athos da Silveira Ramos 149, Cidade Universitaria, Rio de Janeiro 21941-909, Brazil
Fernanda Petzold Pauli
Institute of Chemistry (IQ), Fluminense Federal University, R. Dr. Mario Vianna, 523, Niterói 24210-141, Brazil
Vitor Francisco Ferreira
Institute of Chemistry (IQ), Fluminense Federal University, R. Dr. Mario Vianna, 523, Niterói 24210-141, Brazil
Carlos Adam Conte-Junior
Laboratory of Advanced Analysis in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (LAABBM), Department of Biochemistry, Chemistry Institute, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Avenida Athos da Silveira Ramos 149, Cidade Universitaria, Rio de Janeiro 21941-909, Brazil
Vania Margaret Flosi Paschoalin
Laboratory of Advanced Analysis in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (LAABBM), Department of Biochemistry, Chemistry Institute, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Avenida Athos da Silveira Ramos 149, Cidade Universitaria, Rio de Janeiro 21941-909, Brazil
Beetroot is a tuber rich in antioxidant compounds, i.e., betanin and saponins, and is one of the main sources of dietary nitrate. The aim of the present study was to microencapsulate a ready-to-eat beetroot soup by lyophilization using different encapsulating agents, which supply the required amount of bioactive nutrients. Particle size distributions ranged from 7.94 ± 1.74 to 245.66 ± 2.31 µm for beetroot soup in starch and from 30.56 ± 1.66 to 636.34 ± 2.04 µm in maltodextrin. Microparticle yields of powdered beetroot soup in starch varied from 77.68% to 88.91%, and in maltodextrin from 75.01% to 80.25%. The NO3− and total betalain contents at a 1:2 ratio were 10.46 ± 0.22 mmol·100 g−1 fresh weight basis and 219.7 ± 4.92 mg·g−1 in starch powdered beetroot soup and 8.43 ± 0.09 mmol·100 g−1 fresh weight basis and 223.9 ± 4.21 mg·g−1 in maltodextrin powdered beetroot soup. Six distinct minerals were identified and quantified in beetroot soups, namely Na, K, Mg, Mn, Zn and P. Beetroot soup microencapsulated in starch or maltodextrin complied with microbiological quality guidelines for consumption, with good acceptance and purchase intention throughout 90 days of storage. Microencapsulated beetroot soup may, thus, comprise a novel attractive strategy to offer high contents of bioaccessible dietary nitrate and antioxidant compounds that may aid in the improvement of vascular-protective effects.