Vegetable oils are highly valued for their nutritional and functional properties, driving scientific interest in developing innovative technologies to enhance production processes. These advancements aim to improve yield, nutritional profiles and organoleptic and functional characteristics. Additionally, vegetable oils have been recognised for their ability to incorporate phenolics as bioactive compounds through stabilisation methods, further enhancing their health benefits. This study conducts a systematic review addressing two main objectives: (i) advanced technologies intended to enhance extraction efficiency while improving the overall quality of vegetable oils and (ii) stabilisation strategies developed to enrich and fortify edible vegetable oils with special focus on phenolic compounds. The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) methodology was applied to evaluate their applications in developing bioactive vegetable oil ingredients and foods. Extraction techniques were assessed based on efficiency in yield and their impact on nutritional, organoleptic and functional properties. Pulsed electric field technology emerged as the most promising approach, offering an optimal balance between oil yield and quality. Combining stirring or high-performance dispersion with ultrasound proved effective in forming stable emulsions for phenolic stabilisation. These strategies provide valuable insights for the agro-industrial sector to enhance production processes and develop healthier, bioactive vegetable oils.
Micronutrient deficiencies, particularly of vitamins A, D3, and folic acid, remain a significant global health challenge despite established dietary recommendations. This study proposes a novel fortification strategy using advanced emulsion technology to enrich extra-virgin olive oil (EVOO) with these essential micronutrients. Water-in-oil (W/O) and double oil-in-water-in-oil (O/W/O) emulsions were designed to enable the simultaneous encapsulation of lipophilic (A and D3) and hydrophilic (folic acid) vitamins within a single functional food matrix. Vitamin concentrations were quantified using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) coupled with a photodiode detector (PDA) to evaluate retention during processing. Bioaccessibility was assessed by subjecting vitamin-enriched emulsions to a standardized in vitro digestion model simulating gastrointestinal conditions. Results showed significantly higher incorporation efficiency in the O/W/O system compared to conventional W/O emulsions, regardless of the physicochemical properties of the vitamins. Both lipophilic (A and D3) and hydrophilic (folic acid) compounds exhibited a satisfactory retention, highlighting the versatility of the double-emulsion approach. This study represents the first report of simple and multiple oil-continuous emulsions that simultaneously incorporate vitamins A, D3, and folic acid, providing preliminary evidence of their stability and gastrointestinal release under simulated digestion conditions.
Micronutrient deficiencies, particularly of vitamins A, D3, and B9, remain a significant global health challenge despite established dietary recommendations. This study proposes a novel fortification strategy using advanced emulsion technology to enrich extra-virgin olive oil (EVOO) with these essential micronutrients. Water-in-oil (W/O) and double oil-in-water-in-oil (O/W/O) emulsions were designed to enable the simultaneous encapsulation of lipophilic (A and D3) and hydrophilic (B9) vitamins within a single functional food matrix. Vitamin concentrations were quantified using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) coupled with a photodiode detector (PDA) to evaluate retention during processing. Bioaccessibility was assessed by subjecting vitamin-enriched emulsions to a standardized in vitro digestion model simulating gastrointestinal conditions. Results showed significantly higher incorporation efficiency in the O/W/O system compared to conventional W/O emulsions, regardless of the physicochemical properties of the vitamins. Both lipophilic (A and D3) and hydrophilic (B9) compounds exhibited satisfactory retention, highlighting the versatility of the double-emulsion approach. This study represents the first report of simple and multiple oil-continuous emulsions that simultaneously incorporate vitamins A, D3, and B9, providing preliminary evidence of their stability and gastrointestinal release under simulated digestion conditions.