Influence of simulated upper intestinal parameters on the efficiency of beta carotene micellarisation using an in vitro model of digestion

This study was undertaken to better understand how variations in the parameters used to simulate the upper intestinal environment influence the transfer of a lipophilic molecule, beta carotene (BC), from the oily to the aqueous phase of digestate using a static model of digestion. Bile, pancreatin and pH were important and inter-related factors in determining the efficiency of BC transfer (P < 0.05). Less than 4% and 8% of the BC was transferred to the aqueous phase in the absence of bile and pancreatin, respectively. Generally, the proportion of BC transferred increased with bile and pancreatin concentrations and with pH. Under conditions which simulated the fed versus fasted states of digestion, significantly more BC was incorporated in the aqueous fraction (46.5% versus 18.8%). These results underscore the need to carefully consider and define the experimental parameters used for in vitro assays to study the digestion of carotenoids and other lipophilic molecules.