In Vitro Gastrointestinal Digestion of Palm Olein and Palm Stearin-in-Water Emulsions with Different Physical States and Fat Contents

The impacts of lipid physical state and content on lipid digestion behavior were investigated using 4 and 20% palm olein-in-water emulsions (4% PO and 20% PO) and 4 and 20% palm stearin-in-water emulsions (4% PS and 20% PS). The changes of lipid physical state, particle size, and microstructure during gastrointestinal digestion; the free fatty acid (FFA) released in the intestinal phase; and the fatty acid composition of micellar phases were investigated. After gastric digestion, all emulsions underwent flocculation and coalescence, with 20% PS showing the most extensive aggregation. During intestinal digestion, the FFA release rate and level decreased as the lipid content increased from 4 to 20%, with 4% PO presenting the highest digestion rate and extent. Besides, the solid fat in 4% PS and 20% PS decreased and increased the maximum lipid digestibility, respectively. These results highlighted the combined roles of lipid physical state and content in modulating dietary lipid digestion.