Enhancing vitamin D 3 bioaccessibility: Unveiling hydrophobic interactions in soybean protein isolate and vitamin D 3 binding via an infant in vitro digestion model

In the domain of infant nutrition, optimizing the absorption of crucial nutrients such as vitamin D 3 (VD 3 ) is paramount. This study harnessed dynamic -high-pressure microfluidization (DHPM) on soybean protein isolate (SPI) to engineer SPI-VD 3 nanoparticles for fortifying yogurt. Characterized by notable binding affinity ( K a = 0.166 x 10 5 L & sdot; mol - 1 ) at 80 MPa and significant surface hydrophobicity ( H 0 = 3494), these nanoparticles demonstrated promising attributes through molecular simulations. During simulated infant digestion, the 80 MPa DHPM-treated nanoparticles showcased an impressive 74.4% VD 3 bioaccessibility, delineating the pivotal roles of hydrophobicity, bioaccessibility, and micellization dynamics. Noteworthy was their traversal through the gastrointestinal tract, illuminating bile salts ' crucial function in facilitating VD 3 re -encapsulation, thereby mitigating crystallization and augmenting absorption. Moreover, DHPM treatment imparted enhancements in nanoparticle integrity and hydrophobic properties, consequently amplifying VD 3 bioavailability. This investigation underscores the potential of SPI-VD 3 nanoparticles in bolstering VD 3 absorption, thereby furnishing invaluable insights for tailored infant nutrition formulations.