Digestibility and Bioaccessibility of α-Tocopherol and Fatty Acids in Freeze-Dried Human Milk Microcapsules Under Simulated Infant Digestive Conditions

Assessing the functional properties and stability of microencapsulated human milk is essential to ensure effective infant consumption. This study investigated the digestibility and bioaccessibility of α-tocopherol and fatty acids in freeze-dried human milk microcapsules using different wall materials (maltodextrin (MD), gum arabic (GA), and their binary mixture (BI)). The capsules were subjected to in vitro digestion under infant gastrointestinal conditions, and multivariate analyses assessed compound release. Hierarchical clustering distinguished changes in α-tocopherol content and fatty acid profiles before and after digestion, with release patterns influenced by wall composition. Principal component analysis indicated that GA preserved the eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) profile more effectively postdigestion, while MD and BI demonstrated similar modulation in α-tocopherol release. All microcapsules increased α-tocopherol bioaccessibility, approximately 2-fold compared to the control, suggesting controlled release. Notably, BI enhanced PUFAs bioaccessibility, potentially due to synergistic interactions among the biopolymers. These findings emphasize the effectiveness of human milk encapsulation in stabilizing and controlling bioactive nutrients release.