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The consumption of animal saturated fat has been associated with an increased risk of chronic disease. The incorporation of a food-grade non-ionic biopolymer such as methylcellulose (MC) and silicon (Si), as a bioactive compound, in pork lard emulsions stabilized with soy protein concentrate (SPC) could offer a valuable opportunity to reduce on the one hand, the animal fat content and on the other hand, to limit its digestion and absorption in the development of healthy meat products. The objective of this study is to evaluate the changes in the structure and rheology of biopolymeric emulsions formulated with pork lard and enriched with Si, as well as their effect on fat digestibility during in vitro gastrointestinal digestion (GID).

During the last decade, the consumption of animal saturated fat has been associated with an increased risk of chronic disease. Experience shows that changing the dietary habits of the population is a complicated and slow process, so technological strategies offer new possibilities for the development of functional foods. The present work is focused on studying the impact of using a food-grade non-ionic hydrocolloid (methylcellulose; MC) and/or the inclusion of silicon (Si) as a bioactive compound in pork lard emulsions stabilized with soy protein concentrate (SPC), on the structure, rheology, lipid digestibility and Si bioaccesibility during in vitro gastrointestinal digestion (GID). Four emulsions (SPC, SPC/Si, SPC/MC and SPC/MC/Si) were prepared with a final biopolymer (SPC and/or MC) concentration of 4% and 0.24% Si. The results showed a lower degree of lipid digestion in SPC/MC compared with SPC, specifically at the end of the intestinal phase. Moreover, Si partially reduced fat digestion only when incorporated into the SPC-stabilized emulsion, while this effect was lost in SPC/MC/Si. This was probably due to its retention inside the matrix emulsion, which resulted in lower bioaccesibility than in SPC/Si. Additionally, the correlation between the flow behavior index (n) and the lipid absorbable fraction was significant, suggesting that n can be a predictive marker of the extent of lipolysis. Concretely, our results revealed that SPC/Si and SPC/MC can be used as pork fat digestion reducers and thus, they can replace pork lard in the reformulation of animal products with potential health benefits.

Oleogels (OG) and gelled emulsions (GE) were elaborated with a mixture of olive and chia oils (80:20 ratio) without and with the incorporation of the health-related compound curcumin. These were studied to evaluate the influence of the oil structuring system on the lipid hydrolysis and bioaccessibility of three healthy fatty acids (FA) (palmitic, oleic, and α-linolenic acids) and of curcumin, compared to the oil mixture (bulk oil, BO). The oil structuring system influenced the firmness and texture, and the presence of curcumin significantly altered the color parameters. GE showed higher lipid digestibility, with a greater proportion of absorbable fraction (higher content of free FA and monoacylglycerides) than OG, which behaved similarly to BO. The presence of curcumin affected the degree of lipolysis, reducing lipid digestibility in OG and increasing it in GE. As for FA bioaccessibility, although GE presented higher percentages overall, curcumin significantly increased and decreased FA bioaccessibility in OG and GE, respectively. The oil structuring system also influenced the bioaccessibility of curcumin, which was higher in GE. Therefore, when selecting an oil structuring system, their physicochemical properties, the degree of lipid hydrolysis, and the bioaccessibility of both curcumin and the FA studied should all be considered.

Soy proteins are commonly used as food emulsifying agents; however, mixed protein-polysaccharide systems improve the functionality of oil-inwater (O/W) food emulsions stabilized only by proteins. Oil-water interfacial adsorption of protein-polysaccharide complexes depends on whether complexation occurs before or after emulsification, as this generates different structures at the interface, which may influence lipid digestibility. Among polysaccharides, methylcellulose (MC) tends to accumulate at the O/W interface due to its high surface activity, providing many technological applications. This study was aimed at determining the effect of MC, added by simultaneous and sequential emulsification methods, on the structure, rheological properties and lipid digestibility of pork lard O/W emulsions stabilized by soy protein concentrate (SPC). Three emulsions (SPC, SPC/MC-sim, SPC/MC-seq) were prepared and compared using confocal laser microscopy, dynamic viscoelastic properties, and in vitro digestion (INFOGEST 3.0 method). MC presence and stage of incorporation affected the emulsion microstructure, as reflected by more spherical, homogeneous and smaller oil droplets. Lipid droplets were entrapped by a protein layer in the SPC emulsion, which was thicker when MC was present, providing greater resistance against environmental stresses during gastrointestinal digestion. MC addition in the SPC-coated oil droplets resulted in a larger linear viscoelastic region without affecting the network rigidity, exerting a delaying effect on the crossover temperature, which was more evident in SPC/MC-seq. The stage of MC incorporation affected the rate and extent of lipolysis, with SPC/MC-seq presenting a lower concentration of free fatty acids, probably because MC, due to its affinity for the O/W interface, hinders the access of lipase to the oil droplet. Decreased extent of lipolysis observed in SPC/MC-seq may be beneficial in the production of animal fat products with reduced fatty aci

This study explores the influence of carboxymethylcelullose (CMC) and methylcelullose (MC), added by simultaneous (sim) and sequential (seq) emulsification methods, on the structure, rheological parameters and in vitro lipid digestibility of pork lard O/W emulsions stabilized by soy protein concentrate (SPC). Five emulsions (SPC, SPC/CMC-sim, SPC/CMC-seq SPC/MC-sim, SPC/MC-seq) were prepared in vitro. The presence of CMC and MC, and the stage of incorporation affected the emulsion microstructure. In the SPC emulsion, lipid droplets were entrapped by a protein layer that was thicker when MC was added, providing greater resistance against environmental stresses during gastrointestinal digestion. At 37 °C, CMC incorporation produced a structural reinforcement of the SPC emulsion, whereas MC addition did not affect the network rigidity, although a delaying effect on the crossover temperature was observed, which was more evident in SPC/MC–seq. The presence and stage of CMC and MC incorporation affected the rate and extent of lipolysis, with SPC/MC-seq presenting an inferior concentration of free fatty acids. The lower extent of lipolysis observed in SPC/MC-seq may be positive in the manufacture of animal fat products in which reduced fatty acid absorption is intended.

Epidemiological and experimental studies have suggested that dietary fiber and proanthocyanidins play an important role on gut microbiota (GM), colonic integrity and body health. Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) is a prevalent disease in which the modifications in the GM and colonic markers stand out. This manuscript hypothesizes the consumption of functional meat enriched in carob fruit extract [CFE; CFE-restructured meat (RM)] ameliorates the dysbiosis and colonic barrier integrity loss in a late-stage T2DM rat model induced by the conjoint action of a high-saturated-fat/high-cholesterol diet (Chol-diet) and a low dose of streptozotocin (STZ) plus a nicotinamide (NAD) injection. Three groups of eight rats were used: (1) D group, a T2DM control group, fed the Chol-diet; (2) ED group, a T2DM preventive strategy group fed the CFE-Chol-diet since the beginning of the study; and (3) DE group, a T2DM curative treatment group, fed the CFE-Chol-diet once the diabetic state was confirmed. The study lasted 8 weeks. Amount and variety of GM, feces short-chain-fatty acids (SCFAs), colonic morphology [crypt depth and density, goblet cells, proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) and transferase dUTP nick end labelling (TUNEL) indexes] and tight junctions were evaluated. A global colonic index combining 17 markers (GCindex) was calculated. ED rats displayed higher levels of GM richness, SCFAs production, crypt depth, and goblet cells than the D group. DE group showed lower Enterobacteriaceae abundance and greater TUNEL index and occludin expression in the distal colon than D counterpart. GCindex differentiated the colonic health status of the experimental groups in the order (ED > DE > D; P < 0.001) as a 17–51 range-quotation, ED, DE, and D groups displayed the values 43, 32.5, and 27, respectively. Thus, CFE-RM used as a T2DM preventive therapy could induce higher GM richness, more adequate SCFAs production, and better colonic barrier integrity. Furthermore, CFE-RM used with