Polymerized whey protein encapsulated antioxidant compound and a process for preparation of same
A process is provided for encapsulating glutathione (GSH), 3,3′-diindolylmethane (DIM), coenzyme-Q10 (CoQ10), and other hydrophobic antioxidant compounds by using whey proteins which may be polymerized in a particular manner. Further, compositions comprising polymerized whey protein (PWP) encapsulated glutathione, polymerized whey protein (PWP) encapsulated CoQ10, and polymerized whey protein (PWP) encapsulated DIM are provided.
1. A process for making a powder of a polymerized whey protein concentrate microencapsulated 3,3′-diindolylmethane (DIM), the process comprising the steps of:
(a) dissolving a powder of whey protein concentrate (WPC) in water at 10% w/v to provide a WPC aqueous solution;
(b) heating the WPC aqueous solution to at least about 70-80° C. to provide a polymerized WPC solution;
(c) adding DIM powder to the polymerized WPC solution to provide a mixture;
(d) adjusting the pH of the mixture in a range from about 6.5 to about 9.0;
(e) stirring the mixture during cooling from about 80° C. to about 45° C. to provide a clear homogeneous solution to effect microencapsulation of DIM by polymerized whey protein; and
(g) isolating polymerized WPC microencapsulated DIM by drying as a solid powder.
2. The process of claim 1 , wherein the WPC powder and DIM powder are used in equal amounts by weight.
3. The process of claim 1 , wherein a weight ratio of the WPC powder to DIM powder is from about 1:1 to 20:1.
4. The process of claim 1 , wherein a viscosity of the WPC aqueous solution after step (a) is from about 100 mPas to about 300 mPas, and wherein a viscosity of the mixture after step (e) is about 3000 mPas.
5. The process of claim 1 , wherein the isolating step is spray-drying.
6. The process of claim 1 , wherein the isolating step is freeze-drying.
7. A composition comprising polymerized whey protein concentrate encapsulating 3,3′-diindolylmethane made by the process of any of the preceding claims .