Search

Studies in humans show that a calcium-enriched diet leads to lower cholesterol in blood serum. This phenomenon is usually explained in the literature with a reduced cholesterol absorption in the small intestine. Our study aims to clarify the effect of calcium on the solubilisation of cholesterol and fatty acid in the dietary mixed micelles (DMM), viz. on the bioaccessibility of these lipophilic substances in the gut. We use an in vitro digestion model which mimics very closely the intestinal pH-profile and the composition of the intestinal fluids. We quantified the effects of Ca(2+) concentration on the lipid solubilization for fats and oils with different saturated/unsaturated fatty acid (FA) contents. We found that the increase of calcium significantly decreases the solubilization of cholesterol, FA and MG. Most importantly, we observe a clear positive correlation between the amounts of solubilized cholesterol, on one side, and solubilized free fatty acids and monoglycerides, on the other side. The main conclusion is that Ca(2+) ions strongly affect the bioaccessibility of both cholesterol and saturated FA. Therefore, calcium may decrease the serum cholesterol via two complementary mechanisms: (1) fatty acid precipitation by calcium ions reduces the solubilisation capacity of the DMM, thus decreasing the levels of solubilised (bioaccessible) cholesterol; (2) the observed strong decrease of the bioaccessible saturated FA, in its own turn, may suppress the cholesterol synthesis in the liver.

Lipid-based formulations (LBF) enhance oral drug absorption by promoting drug solubilization and supersaturation. The aim of the study was to determine the effect of the lipid carrier type, drop size and surfactant concentration on the rate of fenofibrate release in a bicarbonate-based in vitro digestion model. The effect of the lipid carrier was studied by preparing type I LBF with drop size ≈ 2 µm, based on medium-chain triglycerides (MCT), sunflower oil (SFO), coconut oil (CNO) and cocoa butter (CB). The drop size and surfactant concentration effects were assessed by studying MCT and SFO-based formulations with a drop size between 400 nm and 14 µm and surfactant concentrations of 1 or 10%. A filtration through a 200 nm filter followed by HPLC analysis was used to determine the aqueous fenofibrate, whereas lipid digestion was followed by gas chromatography. Shorter-chain triglycerides were key in promoting a faster drug release. The fenofibrate release from long-chain triglyceride formulations (SFO, CNO and CB) was governed by solubilization and was enhanced at a smaller droplet size and higher surfactant concentration. In contrast, supersaturation was observed after the digestion of MCT emulsions. In this case, a smaller drop size and higher surfactant had negative effects: lower peak fenofibrate concentrations and a faster onset of precipitation were observed. The study provides new mechanistic insights on drug solubilization and supersaturation after LBF digestion, and may support the development of new in silico prediction models. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High plasma concentrations of cholesterol are associated with cardio-vascular disease complications and high risk of myocardial infarction. The absorption of dietary cholesterol depends on its bioaccessibility, which is in turn influenced by phytosterols, saponins and lipid digestion products. Therefore, we explored the interplay between phytosterols, Quillaja Dry saponin extract (QD), their combinations and lipid digestion on cholesterol bioaccessibility via an in vitro. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]