Spray Drying Methodology for Vitamin Stability in Infant Formulas
摘要
Breastfeeding is the preferred feeding for infants, however substituents such as infant formula (IF) are sometimes needed. IF, usually presented in powder form, should mimic mother’s milk in terms of physicochemical properties and nutritional quality (similar components and amounts of macronutrients, for example, protein, carbohydrate, and fat, and micronutrients, for example, vitamins and minerals). As the vitamin content of IF (cow milk powder) is usually less than that of human milk and considering the vital roles of vitamins in maintaining a healthy state, IF fortifications with vitamins seem necessary. The stability of the added vitamins to IF until usage is of great importance. Due to the susceptibility of vitamins to environmental conditions as well as low bioavailability and unpleasant taste, their direct addition to the IF is not recommended. Microencapsulation is an efficient way to enhance vitamin stability and bioavailability, mask their taste, offer a controlled release profile, and reduce their possible toxicity. Spray drying is commonly used for the encapsulation of vitamins in IF due to its flexibility with different materials, cost-effectiveness, and continuous process, which results in IF powder having favorable properties. In this chapter, the application of spray drying for vitamins and dehydration of IF and has been reviewed.