Phytosterol vehicles used in a functional product modify carotenoid/cholesterol bioaccessibility and uptake by Caco-2 cells

Abstract

Functional foods containing dispersible phytosterols (DPs) are recommended to reduce cholesterol absorption in humans. However, only a few studies have been conducted on the effect of DP vehicles on carotenoid bioaccessibility and uptake by intestinal cells. On a previously developed fermented maize product containing both DPs and carotenoids, we aim to evaluate the effect of DPs encapsulated by maltodextrin on the carotenoid/phytosterol/cholesterol interactions during gastro-duodenal digestion. Thanks to maltodextrin properties, β-carotene and lycopene bioaccessibilities were significantly improved by 40.2 ± 1.4% while that of β-cryptoxanthin decreased by 14 ± 0.1%. Additionally, the presence of DPs reduced the cholesterol micellarization by 51.8 ± 4.2%. Despite a slight decrease in carotenoid uptake caused by the DP vehicle, related to micelle size, an inhibition of cholesterol accumulation by Caco-2 cells was observed. These results highlighted the key role of maltodextrin as a vehicle of DPs on carotenoid and cholesterol absorption.

Keywords

• Dispersible phytosterols
• Maltodextrin
• Carotenes
• Xanthophylls
• Bioaccessibility
• Caco-2 cells