A liposome is one of the most commonly used encapsulation technology with proven benefits, including high biocompatibility and improved solubility, but efficacy may be compromised when used for oral delivery, including application in food. The latter is an unfortunate but manageable setback compared to its promising compatibility with various nutraceuticals regardless of their solubility, which would be greatly useful in functional food production. Oral delivery presents several challenges, specifically the harsh environment in the gastrointestinal tract with enzymatic activities and pH changes and limited permeability of compounds across intestinal epithelia. To overcome these challenges, various efforts have been made to modify and strengthen liposomes as oral carriers. In this review, a brief introduction to liposomes and the challenges faced in the gastrointestinal tract is provided. A review of the existing modification efforts done to liposomes was to increase their stability and permeability for oral delivery.

Fermented shrimp sausages are prepared spontaneously with Litopenaeus vannamei as raw material. Shrimp is one of the marine sources with rich chitosan as bioactive compounds, antioxidants, vitamin E, and probiotic lactic acid bacteria (LAB) produced by fermentation processes. This study aimed to analyze the variations in antioxidant activity, vitamin E content, total LAB, total pathogenic bacteria, pH, and acceptability of shrimp sausage produced at different fermentation times. A completely randomized experimental design study was performed using four levels of exposure time, including control (0 days), 1, 2, and 3 days. The treatment was conducted spontaneously with 1.2% salt concentration, a drying temperature of 50°C for 3 h, and fermentation at 35°C. The evaluated parameters included the antioxidant activity measured with the radical 2,2-azino-bis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonic acid) method, vitamin E levels by high-performance liquid chromatography, total LAB with total plate count, and Escherichia coli bacteria by the most probable number method. Salmonella sp. and Staphylococcus aureus were estimated by the identification method. A pH meter was used to assess acidity, and hedonic organoleptic testing was performed for taste, aroma, color, and texture. The results show significant differences in antioxidant activity, vitamin E, and shrimp sausage acceptability at varied fermentation times . However, the best formulation was obtained with the first-day fermented shrimp sausage, as shown by its bioactive content and the level of acceptability.

Background: Tempeh is a fermented soybean containing isoflavones that shows good benefits again obesity. Co-fermentation of tempeh using Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG could increase the bioavailability of isoflavones.Objective: This study aimed to determine the effect of co-fermented tempeh using Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG (tLGG) on body weight (B.W.), Lee Index, high sensitivity C Reactive Protein (hs-CRP), and lipid profile of obese rats. Total flavonoid and genistein were also measured.Methods: Male Sprague Dawley rats (n=36, 200-to-215-gram, age eight weeks) were orally administered high fat and high sucrose diet (HFHS diet) for two weeks to induce obesity. After obesity was confirmed by checking Lee Index, rats were divided into six group and administered orally standard diet (normal control), HFHS diet (negative control), HFHS diet and 120 mg/kg B.W./day-orlistat (positive control), HFHS diet and 60 mg/kg B.W./day standard tempeh with Rhizopus oligosporus (tS), HFHS diet and 60 mg/kg B.W./day tLGG, HFHS diet and 120 mg/kg B.W./day tLGG for four weeks. Body weight, Lee Index, hs-CRP, and lipid profile were analyzed. Total flavonoid and genistein were analyzed.Results: 120 mg/kg B.W./day tLGG group exhibited significantly lower body weight gains, Lee Index, hs-CRP, triglyceride, total cholesterol, LDL, and higher HDL compared to negative control and tS group (p<0,001), however, positive control group exhibited lower body weight gains compared to tLGG group (p<0,001). Nevertheless, tLGG group exhibited lower Lee Index compared to positive control group. tLGG showed higher flavonoid and genistein level than tS.Conclusion: Administration of 120 mg/kg B.W./day tLGG showed significantly lower Lee Index compared to all groups given HFHS diet, however, positive control group showed lower body weight gains compared to tLGG group. tLGG also improved hs-CRP and lipid profile two times better than negative control group. tLGG increased total flavonoids and genistein level.

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a metabolic disorder characterized by chronic hyperglycemia. It is caused by impaired insulin secretion or by insulin receptor insensitivity. DM and its complications are often related to increases in the level of oxidative stress. Spirulina is a nutrient-dense food that contains an abundance of antioxidant compounds. In combination with kefir, it may serve as both a nutrient-rich diet and an antioxidant agent that can prevent complications of diabetes. This study aims to investigate the nutritional content of kefir-spirulina and its effect on glycemic status and antioxidant activity in streptozotocin-nicotinamide (STZ-NA) induced diabetic rats. A total of 30 male Sprague Dawley rats were divided into five groups: normal control (K1), diabetic control (K2), pioglitazone treatment (K3), kefir combined with 1% spirulina treatment (P1), and kefir combined with 2% spirulina treatment (P2). All rats were induced by STZ-NA, except for the normal control. Before and after the 28 days of intervention, blood samples were taken and analyzed for fasting plasma glucose, postprandial glucose, and SOD activity. The nutritional content, ethanol content, and total antioxidant capacity of kefir-spirulina were also analyzed. The diabetic rats that were fed with kefir-spirulina (P1 and P2) had a significant decrease in both fasting and postprandial plasma glucose (p <0.001) compared to the diabetic control rats. The decrease of plasma glucose in K2 is comparable to the control rats treated with the diabetic drug pioglitazone (K3). The activity of SOD in diabetic rats fed in P1 and P2 were higher (p <0.001) than in untreated diabetic rats (K2). The IC50 of kefir-spirulina was 42 – 43 ppm. It was concluded that kefir combined with spirulina has high nutrition and antioxidant capacity, which is proven to be capable of controlling glycemic status and enhancing antioxidant status in a diabetic rat model.

Background: Vitamin D deficiency is frequently correlated with elevated malondialdehyde (MDA) levels and decreased superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity. Several studies have demonstrated that vitamin D₃ can reverse intracellular oxidative stress. However, vitamin D is prone to deterioration and instability. Liprotides contain lipids and proteins that can prevent vitamin D from oxidating.Objective: This study aims to investigate the effects of liprotide-encapsulated vitamin D₃ on MDA concentrations and SOD activity in calcium and vitamin D-deficient rat models. Methods: The experimental post-test-only control group study used 24 Wistar rats randomly in 4 groups. Groups K(-), K(+), and P were fed a vitamin D and calcium-depleted AIN-93M diet for 14 days. Standard feed AIN-93M was received by normal groups (KN). Groups K- were deficient rats in vitamin D and calcium without intervention. The groups of K+ and P were given vitamin D₃ (180 IU) which was non-encapsulated and liprotide-encapsulated for 28 days.The SOD activity was quantified with Superoxide Dismutase (SOD) Activity Assay Kit, while MDA levels were determined using Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Substance (TBARS) method. The statistical analysis used One-way ANOVA test with Least Significant Difference follow-up test. Results: The MDA levels and SOD activity in the K+ and P groups had significant differences (p<0.05) against the control group. Liprotides-encapsulated vitamin D₃ significantly reduced MDA levels and enhanced SOD activity compared to non-encapsulated in rats with a deficiency in vitamin D and calcium. Conclusion: Liprotide-encapsulated vitamin D₃ has the potential to increase SOD activity and decrease MDA levels.