To protect vitamin D3 during cold storage and exposure to UV-light, vitamin D3 has been entrapped in
microspheres formed by bovine protein b-lactoglobulin (blg) and lysozyme (Lyso) from egg white. The
behaviour of the blg/Lyso microspheres in simulated intestinal fluid and their impact on the kinetic
release of D3 were determined. The impact of the D3-loaded blg/Lyso microspheres on the bioavailability
of D3 was evaluated in vivo by force-feeding rats. The data indicate that the blg/Lyso microspheres
effectively improved the stability of D3, which was readily released in the intestines. The release kinetics
were accelerated in the presence of proteolytic enzymes. The bioavailability of D3 was improved, as
confirmed by the significant increase in the serum levels of 25-hydroxy-D3 in rats. The current work
demonstrates that water soluble proteins were used to substantially increase the bioavailability of the
lipophilic vitamin, and thus can serve in the oral delivery of D3.
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