Physicochemical stability and gastrointestinal fate of β-carotene-loaded oil-in-water emulsions stabilized by whey protein isolate-low acyl gellan gum conjugates

This study aimed to examine the effect of whey protein isolate-low acyl gellan gum (WPI-GG) conjugate on the physicochemical properties and digestibility of β-carotene-loaded oil-in-water emulsions. The WPI-GG conjugate-stabilized emulsions had lower droplet sizes with more homogenous distribution, more negative surface charge, and higher interfacial protein concentration and viscosity, compared to those stabilized by WPI-GG mixture and WPI. The emulsion droplets coated by the conjugate were also generally more stable to environmental stresses (i.e., storage, pH changes, ionic strength, freeze–thaw cycles, and thermal treatment) along with higher β-carotene retention than other systems. The stability to droplet aggregation during in vitro digestion was remarkably increased for the conjugate-stabilized emulsion. However, the β-carotene bioaccessibility was significantly affected when the conjugate was used to stabilize the emulsions, likely due to the thick interfacial layer, high viscosity, and negative charge of the corresponding emulsions that could inhibit droplet digestion and mixed micelle formation.