Structural interactions and technological and sensory effects of Mauritia flexuosa (buriti) oil microparticles microencapsulated with the polysaccharides gum arabic and inulin in the yogurt protein matrix

Buriti oil, a rich source of β-carotene and antioxidants, presents limitations for direct incorporation into yogurt due to oxidative instability and hydrophobicity. In this study, buriti oil was microencapsulated into lyophilized microparticles using gum arabic and inulin and incorporated into yogurt formulations at gum arabic:inulin ratios of 3:1, 1:1, and 1:3 (w/w; coded as AG75IN25, AG50IN50, and AG25IN75, respectively). A control yogurt without microparticles was also prepared. All enriched formulations provided 1437.13 μg of β-carotene per 200 g of yogurt (40% of the recommended daily intake of vitamin A), with variations only in the wall material ratio. Structural, physicochemical, microbiological, and sensory analyses were conducted during refrigerated storage (4 °C). Scanning electron microscopy revealed microstructural changes after microparticle incorporation, while FTIR spectroscopy suggested modifications in molecular organization and protein-polysaccharide associations. AG50IN50 showed the most balanced performance, retaining 97% of β-carotene after 15 days and increasing firmness and elasticity by ~20% compared to the control. This formulation-maintained pH 4.1-4.3, titratable acidity 1.11-1.28 g·100 g^-1 lactic acid, syneresis 22.9-35.6%, and microbial viability above 8.4 log₁₀ CFU·g^-1. AG25IN75 retained 92% of β-carotene but had lower sensory acceptance, while AG75IN25 retained 89% with intermediate scores. Lyophilized microparticles improved β-carotene retention without compromising yogurt quality. Freeze-drying microencapsulation effectively preserved β-carotene and ensured homogeneous oil dispersion, mitigating sensory impacts, guiding future research on lipophilic compound delivery and supporting the dairy industry in producing stable, nutritious, and sensorially acceptable fortified yogurts.