257: Dual Fermentation and Microencapsulation of Wild Blueberries: Exploring Dietary Strategies for Metabolic Disease Management

Introduction

Wild blueberries, a valuable North American agricultural resource, is gaining prominence in nutraceutical and functional food markets. However, the instability of their bioactive compounds limits their full potential health benefits. Fermentation enhances the bioactive profile of wild blueberries, while microencapsulation improves their stability during storage, processing, and gastrointestinal digestion. Given the health concerns associated with maltodextrin used in encapsulation, this research also explores alternatives as coating materials.

Methods

Wild blueberries were subsequently fermented using Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Komagataeibacter spp., followed by microencapsulation through spray-drying using prebiotic fibers and plant proteins as partial or complete substitutes for maltodextrin. The physicochemical characteristics of resulting microparticles were assessed. The physiological benefits of this novel functional food ingredient against metabolic syndrome were assessed using a high-fat high-sucrose diet-induced obesogenic C57BL/6J mice model. Data were analyzed using one-way ANOVA (Minitab, p < 0.05). Means were compared using Tukey's test.

Results

Interestingly, dual fermentation generated health-promoting post-biotics such as isoferulic acid, protocatechuic acid, caffeic acid, and short-chain fatty acids. Physicochemical analysis revealed that maltodextrin/inulin (1:1 w/w) carrier formulation exhibited desirable properties similar to maltodextrin-based microencapsulation products, including effective encapsulation through Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, 6% moisture content, 7% hygroscopicity, 40 μm particle size, and 77% encapsulation efficiency. The novel microparticles displayed robust stability under UV light exposure and various storage conditions indicating improved shelf-life and potential for commercial applications. Microparticle-supplemented obese mice showed significantly reduced body weight gain, liver weight, body fat, and plasma cholesterol compared to non-supplemented obese controls suggesting potential in managing obesity-related metabolic disorders. However, microparticle supplementation did not improve glycemic control, insulin sensitivity, and plasma antioxidant status indicating that the benefits may be specific to certain aspects of metabolic health. The impact of microparticles on inflammatory biomarkers of metabolic tissues is under investigation.

Significance

Biotransformation enhances the bioactive profile of wild blueberries, creating potent post-biotic metabolites with therapeutic potential. Inulin offers a healthier alternative to maltodextrin for microencapsulation. Biotransformed, microencapsulated wild blueberry bioactives show promise as a safe, non-pharmaceutical intervention for metabolic diseases. These findings help to expand the market potential of wild blueberries through product diversification and the development of functional food ingredients and nutraceuticals.

Authors: Dinushi Gamage and H.P.Vasantha Rupasinghe