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. 2021 Apr 7:8:654624.
doi: 10.3389/fnut.2021.654624. eCollection 2021.

Nano-encapsulated Iron and Folic Acid-Fortified Functional Yogurt Enhance Anemia in Albino Rats

Amira M G Darwish  1 , Tarek N Soliman  2 , Hassan A Elhendy  3 , Wedad M El-Kholy  4
Affiliations

Nano-encapsulated Iron and Folic Acid-Fortified Functional Yogurt Enhance Anemia in Albino Rats

Amira M G Darwish et al. Front Nutr. .

Abstract

Iron deficiency anemia (IDA) is a major health concern in developing countries, and these see an increased incidence in pregnant women and children in particular. The contribution of dairy products as natural products in drug delivery approaches is inspiring. This study aimed to analyze the application of iron (Fe) and folic acid (FA) bovine serum albumin-nanoparticles (BSA-NPs) as anti-anemic pharmacological agents that fortify stirred functional yogurt (SFY), comparing these with a plain control and SFY fortified with Fe and FA in free forms. The physicochemical, cytotoxicity, microbiological, viscosity, oxidative interactions, microstructural, sensorial analyses, and bioavailability properties of IDA-induced Albino rats were examined. The Transmission Electron Microscope (TEM), Zetasizer, and Scan Electron Microscope (SEM) were applied. Nanocapsule-fortified SFY showed an enhanced apparent viscosity, water-holding capacity, microstructure, least lipid oxidation, and overall sensorial acceptability. Feed that included Fe + FA nanocapsule-fortified SFY (G6) succeeded in restoring hemoglobin (16.53 gdL-1), iron (109.25 μgdL-1), ferritin (33.25 μgdL-1), and total protein (8.6 gdL-1) at the end of the 4-week feeding period, with significant competition revealed in calcium and zinc absorbance. Nanocapsule-fortified SFY showed no adverse effects or architectural alterations in the liver, kidney, or spleen, as indicated by biochemical and histological examinations. Bovine serum albumin-nanoparticles (BSA-NPs) of iron (Fe) and folic acid (FA) can be recommended as anti-anemia supplements in different functional food applications.

Keywords: anti-anemia; bioavailability; food supplements; nano-encapsulated Fe and FA; natural products; stirred functional yogurt.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Characterization of BSA-NPs via Transmission Electron Microscope (TEM). (A) Bovine Serum Albumin nanoparticles (BSA-NPs). (B) Iron Bovine Serum Albumin nanoparticles (Fe@ BSA-NPs). (C) Folic Acid Bovine Serum Albumin nanoparticles (FA@ BSA-NPs).
Figure 2
Figure 2
Apparent viscosity of stirred functional yogurt products at different shearing rates. (A) Fresh products. (B) After 21 days of cold storage. Data represented as means of duplicates ±SD. C, Control plain SFY; T1, SFY fortified with free Fe + ascorbic acid; T2, SFY fortified with free Fe + FA + ascorbic acid; T3, SFY fortified with Fe@BSA-NPs + ascorbic acid; T4, SFY fortified with Fe +FA @BSA-NPs + ascorbic acid. BSA-NPs, Bovine Serum Albumin nanoparticles; FA, Folic Acid.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Phenolic, flavonoid content, and antioxidant potentials in SFY during storage. (A) Total phenolic content (TPC) (μg gallic acid equivalents/g sample). (B) Total flavonoid content (TFC) (μg catechol equivalents/g sample). (C) Antioxidant potentials represented as IC50 (mg mL−1), the inhibitory concentration at which 50% of DPPH radical is scavenged. Data represented are means of duplicates ±SD. C, Control plain SFY; T1, SFY fortified with free Fe + ascorbic acid; T2, SFY fortified with free Fe + FA + ascorbic acid; T3, SFY fortified with Fe@BSA-NPs + ascorbic acid; T4, SFY fortified with Fe +FA @BSA-NPs + ascorbic acid. BSA-NPs, Bovine Serum Albumin nanoparticles; FA, Folic Acid.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Lipid oxidation in stirred functional yogurt during storage. (A) Thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) value. (B) Peroxide value. Data represented are means of duplicates ±SD. C, Control plain SFY; T1, SFY fortified with free Fe + ascorbic acid; T2, SFY fortified with free Fe + FA + ascorbic acid; T3, SFY fortified with Fe@BSA-NPs + ascorbic acid; T4, SFY fortified with Fe +FA @BSA-NPs + ascorbic acid. BSA-NPs, Bovine Serum Albumin nanoparticles; FA, Folic Acid.
Figure 5
Figure 5
Micrographs of stirred functional yogurt products (X500, 50 μm, 10 kV). (A) Control plain SFY. (B) SFY fortified with free Fe + ascorbic acid (T1). (C) SFY fortified with free Fe + FA + ascorbic acid (T2). (D) SFY fortified with Fe@ BSA-NPs + ascorbic acid (T3). (E) SFY fortified with Fe +FA @ BSA-NPs + ascorbic acid (T4). BSA-NPs, Bovine Serum Albumin nanoparticles; FA, Folic Acid.
Figure 6
Figure 6
Sensory evaluation of stirred functional yogurt. (A) Fresh products. (B) After 21 days of cold storage. C, Control plain SFY; T1, SFY fortified with free Fe + ascorbic acid; T2, SFY fortified with free Fe + FA + ascorbic acid; T3, SFY fortified with Fe@-BSA-NPs + ascorbic acid; T4, SFY fortified with Fe +FA @-BSA-NPs + ascorbic acid. BSA-NPs, Bovine Serum Albumin nanoparticles; FA, Folic Acid.
Figure 7
Figure 7
CBC (4 weeks of treatment) and serum profile of rats groups. (A) Complete blood cell count (CBC). (B) Red cell indices. (C) Iron parameters in rats groups. (D) Calcium concentrations in rats groups. (E) Zinc concentrations in rats groups. (F) protein parameters in rats groups. Serum profile data represented are means of duplicates ±SD. Serum profile data with different letters are significantly different (p ≤ 0.05). G1, Negative control; G2, Positive control Group; G3, Fed SFY fortified with free Fe + ascorbic acid; G4, Fed SFY fortified with free Fe + FA + ascorbic acid; G5, Fed SFY fortified with Fe@ BSA-NPs + ascorbic acid; G6, Fed SFY fortified with Fe + FA@ BSA-NPs + ascorbic acid. RBCs (106 μL−1), WBCs (103 μL−1), Hb (g dL−1), Platelets (μm3); TIBC, Total iron-binding capacity; TS, Transferrin saturation; BSA-NPs, Bovine Serum Albumin nanoparticles; FA, Folic Acid.
Figure 8
Figure 8
(A–F) Representative photomicrographs of liver sections of rats from the different experimental groups (Hematoxylin and eosin stain X 40). (A) G1 Negative control. (B) G2 Positive control group. (C) G3 Fed SFY fortified with free Fe + ascorbic acid. (D) G4 Fed FSY fortified with free Fe + FA + ascorbic acid. (E) G5 Fed SFY fortified with Fe@ BSA-NPs + ascorbic acid. (F) G6 Fed SFY fortified with Fe + FA@ BSA-NPs + ascorbic acid. BSA-NPs, Bovine Serum Albumin nanoparticles; FA, Folic Acid.
Figure 9
Figure 9
(A–F) Representative photomicrographs of kidney sections of rats from the different experimental groups (Hematoxylin and eosin stain X 40). (A) G1 Negative control. (B) G2 Positive control group. (C) G3 Fed SFY fortified with free Fe + ascorbic acid. (D) G4 Fed SFY fortified with free Fe + FA + ascorbic acid. (E) G5 Fed SFY fortified with Fe@ BSA-NPs + ascorbic acid. (F) G6 Fed SFY fortified with Fe + FA@ BSA-NPs + ascorbic acid. BSA-NPs, Bovine Serum Albumin nanoparticles; FA, Folic Acid.
Figure 10
Figure 10
(A–F) Representative photomicrographs of spleen sections of rats from the different experimental groups (Hematoxylin and eosin stain X 40). (A) G1 Negative control. (B) G2 Positive control Group. (C) G3 Fed SFY fortified with free Fe + ascorbic acid. (D) G4 Fed SFY fortified with free Fe + FA + ascorbic acid. (E) G5 Fed SFY fortified with Fe@ BSA-NPs + ascorbic acid. (F) G6 Fed SFY fortified with Fe + FA@ BSA-NPs + ascorbic acid. BSA-NPs, Bovine Serum Albumin nanoparticles; FA, Folic Acid.
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