Spray drying vitamin B12: Innovations in encapsulation for functional foods

Vitamin B 12 deficiency remains a global health concern, especially in low- and middle-income regions with limited access to nutrient-rich foods. As a key nutrient for neurological and physical health, its deficiency can lead to fatigue, cognitive decline, and mood disorders. This review focuses on the chemical forms of vitamin B 12 , highlighting cyanocobalamin as the most used in food applications. It examines spray drying as a key encapsulation strategy to enhance B 12 stability and bioavailability in fortified foods, addressing environmental stressors and food matrix interactions. The role of encapsulating agents on process efficiency and release profile is also discussed, with an emphasis on spray drying's scalability and relevance for at-risk populations. Vitamin B 12 's complex structure, centered on a cobalt ion within a corrinoid ring, is essential for its function yet makes it susceptible to degradation during processing and storage. Studies have focused on spray drying with polysaccharide-based encapsulants, including gum Arabic, inulin, maltodextrin, alginate, and modified starches. These formulations have shown encapsulation efficiencies above 80 %, yields up to 85.1 %, depending on formulation and process conditions. Vitamin B 12 has been incorporated into food matrices such as tea, flour, sugar, fresh-cut salad, and dairy; however, the incorporation of spray-dried encapsulated forms has not yet been evaluated. Therefore, further studies are needed to evaluate the incorporation of spray-dried encapsulated vitamin B 12 into food matrices, including consumer acceptance, regulatory compliance, and in vivo release. These findings also suggest potential for using more bioactive but less stable and costlier vitamin B 12 forms in future formulations. • Spray drying offers a powerful solution to boost vitamin B 12 stability and bioavailability in fortified foods. • Encapsulation efficiencies reaching 100 % and retention rates above 85 % highlight strong protective performance. • Next-generation wall materials like zein and chitosan unlock improved control over vitamin B12 release and protection. • Spray drying supports targeted nutrition strategies, especially in vitamin B12-deficient populations.