Strategic choices for in vitro food digestion methodologies enabling food digestion design

Background: In the past decades, the great interest in food digestion research led to a wide array of in vitro digestion (IVD) methods. Each of these methods have the potential of providing specific valuable scientific in- sights in digestion mechanisms and the rational structural design of foods. Scope and approach: This review paper outlines important transitions in recent IVD research and formulates important considerations relevant for the set-up of future in vitro experiments, especially in the context of rational food digestion design. Important transitions are discussed, including the importance of kinetic experi- ments for macronutrient digestion, the relevance of the transition towards more complex (semi)-dynamic digestion conditions, the shift from single nutrients in simplified systems towards real foods and meals, and the emerging trend to adapt methods to mimic the gastrointestinal (GI) tract of specific populations. Key findings and conclusions: Notwithstanding the recent shift towards more complex IVD methods, the possi- bilities and advantages of more simple digestion methods should not be overlooked for mechanistic under- standing or for sample screening purposes. Since the information retrieved from a simulation experiment depends on the applied conditions, the appropriate in vitro protocol should be chosen depending on the research question. In this context, the harmonization of digestion methods such as the standardized INFOGEST protocols can play a notable role in food digestion research and the development of tailored foods for all different strata of the population.

Publication year:2022

Accessibility:Open