Bioavailability of selenium in plant-based beverages: a detailed analysis using static and dynamic models

• Grant number: 23/11364-5
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships abroad - Research Internship - Post-doctor
• Start date: June 01, 2024
• End date: May 31, 2025
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Food Science and Technology - Food Science
• Principal Investigator: Marcelo Antonio Morgano
• Grantee: José Luan da Paixão Teixeira
• Supervisor: Isabel Seiquer
• Host Institution: Instituto de Tecnologia de Alimentos (ITAL). Agência Paulista de Tecnologia dos Agronegócios (APTA). Secretaria de Agricultura e Abastecimento (São Paulo - Estado). Campinas , SP, Brazil
• Institution abroad: Estación Experimental del Zaidín (EEZ), Spain
• Associated to the scholarship: 22/06111-8 - Plant-based beverages: selenium species, fortification and bioaccessibility estimation, BP.PD

Abstract

The global increase in the production and consumption of plant-based beverages (PBB) is evident; however, there is a scarcity of information regarding what drives the market and the nutritional profile of these beverages. Data related to the assessment of selenium (Se) bioavailability in PBB, through static and dynamic models, remains unknown. Although there has been a recent adaptation in the standardized model proposed by INFOGEST, there are alternatives to simulate in vitro digestion in foods, including static and dynamic models, and the use of Caco-2 cells. While the INFOGEST protocol reproduces the physiological conditions of the fed gastrointestinal tract, dynamic models replicate the various stages of the human digestive tract, incorporating changes in pH, peristaltic movements, and secretion flow rates. In turn, Caco-2 cells are based on the behavior of epithelial cells in the small intestine. In this context, the main objective of this project will be to study the bioavailability of Se using static models (INFOGEST protocol combined with Caco-2 cells) and dynamic models (continuous flow reactor) of in vitro gastrointestinal digestion. The challenge will be to evaluate the impact of the use of these models, considering their different complexities, costs, and challenges. For our research group, this initiative represents a significant advancement in understanding the bioavailability of Se in plant-based beverages. For the PBB industry, the research will provide a valuable contribution, as these beverages are marketed at higher prices compared to cow's milk, their main competitor. The potential award of the BEPE-PD scholarship will play a crucial role in facilitating the exchange of interlaboratory information with an international reference group in the proposed procedures.