Outstanding performance of gelatin as folic acid carrier: Assessment of photoprotection, bioaccessibility and gelling properties of the protein

Abstract

Protein-based carriers are important tools for the delivery of bioactive molecules. The objective of this work is to assess gelatin as folic acid carrier, a water-soluble vitamin with numerous fundamental biological functions. In particular, the aim of this research is to assess how this interaction affects some important properties of gelatin, to what extent it protects folic acid from degradation caused by UV light exposure and how bioaccessible the vitamin is after in vitro gastro-duodenal digestion. Firstly, it was determined that the interaction with gelatin (2.5%) at pH 3 was more efficient to avoid its degradation. In this system, it was verified that the vitamin was released from the protein carrier during the duodenal stage and would be bioaccessible in this site of absorption. Finally, the effect of folic acid on the gelling properties of this protein was analyzed, given the importance when used as food ingredient. No relevant differences were observed in the rheological and functional parameters due to the presence of the vitamin, which would allow a wide application of the developed carrier.