Bigels as Delivery Systems of Bioactive Fatty Acids Present in Functional Edible Oils: Coconut, Avocado, and Pomegranate

Abstract

Bioactive fatty acids possess several benefits for human health; however, these molecules show a reduced oxidative stability and consequently reduced bioavailability. This work aimed to develop novel bigels as a strategy to protect bioactive fatty acids present in three different vegetable oils with nutritional attributes (coconut oil, avocado oil, and pomegranate oil) during passage through the gastrointestinal tract (GIT). Bigels were prepared using monoglycerides-vegetable oil oleogel and carboxymethyl cellulose hydrogel. These bigels were analyzed in terms of structure and rheological characteristics. According to the rheological properties, bigels exhibited a solid-like behavior since G’ was higher than G”. The results showed that the proportion of oleogel was essential to the viscosity of the final formulation as an increase in this fraction was responsible for an increase in viscosity. The fatty acids profile was evaluated before and after simulated GIT. The bigels protected the fatty acids against degradation; in the case of coconut oil, the reduction of key fatty acids was 3 times lower; for avocado oil, 2 times lower; and for pomegranate oil, 1.7 times lower. These results suggest that bigels can be used as part of an important strategy for bioactive fatty acid delivery for food applications.

Effect of the use of sweet potato or chayote tuber starch hydrogels on the physical properties of oleogel‐in‐hydrogel (bigels) systems

“…The OBC in the bigels was higher than 96% in all the cases, indicating that bigels stabilised with hydrogels from SP and CH starch are capable to support and carry up to the same amount of OG. Similar findings have been reported for BG systems where OG was formed with mono and diglycerides‐coconut oil, avocado oil, or pomegranate oil, and carboxymethylcellulose‐based HG, reaching OBC up to 98.7% (Machado et al ., 2023). Yang et al .…”

Bigels as Delivery Systems: Potential Uses and Applicability in Food

“…Bioactive polyunsaturated fatty acids have proven health benefits and are also good candidates for protection and delivery via bigels due to their low oxidative stability [ 89 ]. Bigels (CMC hydrogel/monoglyceride oleogel) prepared with three vegetable oils as liquid phases (i.e., coconut, avocado, and pomegranate oil) were investigated for their nutritional attributes [ 89 ]. The bigel matrix protected the fatty acids from oxidation [ 89 ].…”

“…Bigels (CMC hydrogel/monoglyceride oleogel) prepared with three vegetable oils as liquid phases (i.e., coconut, avocado, and pomegranate oil) were investigated for their nutritional attributes [ 89 ]. The bigel matrix protected the fatty acids from oxidation [ 89 ]. The bigels with avocado oil were then used to enrich yogurt [ 99 ].…”

“…In beeswax oleogels, ß-carotene was incorporated as an antioxidant, but it also had a significant impact on the oleogel hardness [ 102 ]. Unsaturated fatty acid-rich vegetable oils were used to produce bigels for functionalized yogurt [ 89 , 99 , 100 ]. These examples suggest that bigel component functionality can expand beyond modulating mechanical/rheological properties and can extend to therapeutic functions.…”

Understanding the Anti-Obesity Potential of an Avocado Oil-Rich Cheese through an In Vitro Co-Culture Intestine Cell Model

“…Avocado bigel was produced as described by Machado et al (2023) [39] and the cheese was produced according to Machado et al (2023) [40]. In brief, commercially available skimmed milk powder was dissolved in water (13% w/v).…”