The authors used oppositely
charged food proteins blg and egg lysozyme (Lyso) to form
microspheres in aqueous solution without the use of any chemical
or cross-linking agents. Electron micrographs have shown that blg
and Lyso can self-assemble to form microspheres smaller than
7.1 lm. Therefore, blg/Lyso-based microspheres were proposed
as GRAS (generally recognised as safe) carriers for nutraceuticals
and pharmaceuticals. This concept was validated with the entrapment
of D3 in the blg/Lyso microspheres at encapsulation efficiency
greater than 90%. Therefore, microspheres were suggested as a carrier
and protective system that could be used to increase the
amount of D3 in foods, especially those with no or low fat content,
which is compatible with current consumer requirements for high
nutritional foods with low fat contents. However, D3 stability studies
have not yet been carried out and the mechanism of passage of
the D3-loaded microspheres through the intestinal epithelium and
subsequent impact on the uptake and bioavailability of D3 is still
unknown. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to investigate
the stability of D3-loaded blg/Lyso microspheres during cold
storage, upon exposure to UV-light irradiation, and in simulated
intestinal fluid. The intestinal uptake of D3 was studied in vivo
using animals.