Delivery systems designed to enhance stability and suitability of lipophilic bioactive compounds in food processing: A review.

[Display omitted] • Fortifying nutrients effectively improves the nutritional quality of food. • Lipophilic bioactives face limitations in food applications due to their instability. • Factors influencing stability and retention of lipophilic bioactives are summarized. • Nanocarriers protect susceptible bioactives in harsh conditions like food processing. • Designing a proper delivery system ensures bioactives endure environmental stresses. Lipophilic compounds, such as flavors, fat-soluble vitamins, and hydrophobic nutrients possess vital properties including antioxidant effects, functional attributes, and nutritional value that can improve human health. However, their susceptibility to environmental factors including heat, pH changes, and ionic strength encountered during food processing poses significant challenges. To address these issues, diverse bioactive delivery systems have been developed. This review explores delivery systems designed to optimize the stability and suitability of lipophilic bioactive compounds in food processing. Extensive literature analysis reveals that tailoring delivery systems with various biopolymers can protect bioactives through steric hindrance and formation of thick interfacial layers on the emulsion surfaces. Thus, the access of oxygen, prooxidants, and free radicals at the emulsion interface could be inhibited, resulting in enhanced processing suitability of bioactives as well as chemical stability under diverse environmental conditions. The insights presented in this review hold immense value for the food and beverage industries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]