Emulsification of Coenzyme Q10 Using Gum Arabic Increases Bioavailability in Rats and Human and Improves Food-Processing Suitability

Cutaneous Delivery and Biodistribution of Cannabidiol in Human Skin after Topical Application of Colloidal Formulations

The objective of this study was to investigate the cutaneous delivery of cannabidiol (CBD) from aqueous formulations developed for the targeted local treatment of dermatological conditions. CBD was formulated using a proprietary colloidal drug delivery system (VESIsorb®) into an aqueous colloidal solution at 2% (ACS 2%) and two colloidal gels (CG 1% and CG 2%, which contained 1% and 2% CBD, respectively). Two basic formulations containing CBD (5% in propylene glycol (PG 5%) and a 6.6% oil solution (OS 6.6%)) and two marketed CBD products (RP1 and RP2, containing 1% CBD) were used as comparators. Cutaneous delivery and cutaneous biodistribution experiments were performed using human abdominal skin (500-700 µm) under infinite- and finite-dose conditions with 0.5% Tween 80 in the PBS receiver phase. The quantification of CBD in the skin samples was performed using a validated UHPLC-MS/MS method and an internal standard (CBD-d3). The cutaneous deposition of CBD under finite-dose conditions demonstrated the superiority of CG 1%, CG 2%, and ACS 2% over the marketed products; CG 1% had the highest delivery efficiency (5.25%). Cutaneous biodistribution studies showed the superiority of the colloidal systems in delivering CBD to the viable epidermis, and the upper and lower papillary dermis, which are the target sites for the treatment of several dermatological conditions.

Encapsulation of vitamin D3 in gum arabic to enhance bioavailability and stability for beverage applications

Delivery of vitamin D3 (VD3 ) in foods should exhibit desirable physicochemical characteristics and improves absorption. In this study, gum arabic (GA) was investigated as a VD3 carrier to encapsulate VD3 . VD3 dissolved in 5 mL ethanol corresponding to 0.3 to 6.0% mass of GA, was blended in 5.0% w/v GA solution, followed by freeze drying. The encapsulation efficiency decreased while loading capacity increased with an increased amount of VD3 . At the highest VD3 level, the loading capacity (3.47%) was the highest, and the encapsulation efficiency (61.24%) was satisfactory, and the treatment was further studied. The magnitude of negative zeta-potential increased from 3.1 to 31.0 mV at pH 2.0 to 7.4. During the 100-day storage at 3 °C of capsules reconstituted at pH 2.0 to 7.4, the hydrodynamic diameter decreased at all pH conditions, most evident for reduction to 81.3 nm at pH 7.4, and no precipitation was observed, indicating the significance of steric repulsion on capsule stability. Bioaccessibility of VD3 in capsules (95.76%) was significantly higher than the nonencapsulated VD3 (68.98%). The in vivo pharmacokinetic study in Sprague-Dawley rats after a single-dose of 300 µg VD3 showed the area-under-curve of serum 25(OHD) level in 48 hr of the encapsulation treatment was 4.32-fold of the nonencapsulated VD3 and more than twice higher than the VD3 -GA physical mixture. During 2-week supplementation of 60 µg VD3 /d, rats receiving capsules or physical mixture had 25(OH)D levels of at least 81 ng/mL higher than that of the nonencapsulated VD3 group. The studied encapsulation system holds great potential as a value-added ingredient to supplement VD3 in beverages with a wide pH range. PRACTICAL APPLICATION: The findings of this study demonstrated the improved dispersion stability and absorption of vitamin D3 after encapsulation in gum arabic. The capsules exhibited good dispersion stability across a pH range between 2.0 and 7.4, showing potential application in beverages. Furthermore, the enhanced absorption of VD3 after encapsulation highlights the nutritional benefits of the studied encapsulation system.

Miso Soup Consumption Enhances the Bioavailability of the Reduced Form of Supplemental Coenzyme Q10

Coenzyme Q₁₀ (CoQ₁₀) is an essential compound that is involved in energy production and is a lipid-soluble antioxidant. Although it has been proposed as an antiaging and a health-supporting supplement, its low bioavailability remains a significant issue. Concurrent food intake enhances the absorption of orally administered CoQ₁₀, but it has not been fully established whether specific food substances affect intestinal CoQ₁₀ absorption. Therefore, to determine whether the bioavailability of supplemental CoQ₁₀ is affected by diet, P30, a granulated and reduced form of CoQ₁₀, was dispersed in four different foods, clear soup, miso soup, milk soup, and raw egg sauce. Those foods which contained CoQ₁₀ were consumed on different occasions at intervals of 6–14 weeks by the same participants. Thirteen participants were recruited in the single-dose and repeated clinical study. When miso soup containing P30 was provided, the serum CoQ₁₀ concentration increased faster than when participants consumed other P30-containing soups or a P30-containing raw egg sauce. The area under the curve for serum CoQ₁₀ during the first 5 h after consumption of the P30-containing miso soup was approximately 1.5 times larger than those after the consumption of other P30-containing meals. These data imply that the absorption of CoQ₁₀ supplements can be enhanced by consuming them with food and in particular with specific food substances, such as miso soup.

Enhanced Stability and Oral Bioavailability of Folic Acid-Dextran-Coenzyme Q10 Nanopreparation by High-Pressure Homogenization

The preparation of folic acid-dextran-coenzyme Q₁₀ (FA-DEX-CoQ₁₀) nanopreparation was optimized by high-pressure homogenization to improve the dissolution and oral bioavailability of CoQ₁₀. The preparation conditions of FA-DEX-CoQ₁₀ nanopreparation were optimized by single-factor and orthogonal experimental design. The properties of CoQ₁₀ raw materials, CoQ₁₀ physical mixtures, and FA-DEX-CoQ₁₀ nanopreparation were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The concentration of CoQ₁₀ in rat plasma was determined by high-performance liquid chromatography, and the corresponding pharmacokinetic parameters were calculated. The optimal preparation method is as follows: mass ratio of CoQ₁₀/FA-DEX of 1:18, mass ratio of stabilizer/CoQ₁₀ of 0.4:1, 6 homogenization cycles, and homogenization pressure of 800 bar. These conditions resulted in a mean particle size of 87.6 nm. SEM showed that the particles was spherical. DSC and XRD analyses showed that the crystallinity of FA-DEX-CoQ₁₀ nanopreparation decreased. FA-DEX-CoQ₁₀ possesses long-term stability. By single-factor and orthogonal experiments, the dissolution rate, C_max, and area under the curve (AUC) of the optimized FA-DEX-CoQ₁₀ nanopreparation were 3.95, 2.7, and 2.4 times as much as those of the raw materials. The results showed that FA-DEX-CoQ₁₀ nanopreparation had better oral bioavailability.

Food-grade nanoemulsions: formulation, fabrication, properties, performance, biological fate, and potential toxicity

Nanoemulsions fabricated from food-grade ingredients are being increasingly utilized in the food industry to encapsulate, protect, and deliver lipophilic functional components, such as biologically-active lipids (e.g., ω-3 fatty acids, conjugated linoleic acid) and oil-soluble flavors, vitamins, preservatives, and nutraceuticals. The small size of the particles in nanoemulsions (r<100 nm) means that they have a number of potential advantages over conventional emulsions-higher stability to droplet aggregation and gravitational separation, high optical clarity, ability to modulate product texture, and, increased bioavailability of lipophilic components. On the other hand, there may also be some risks associated with the oral ingestion of nanoemulsions, such as their ability to change the biological fate of bioactive components within the gastrointestinal tract and the potential toxicity of some of the components used in their fabrication. This review article provides an overview of the current status of nanoemulsion formulation, fabrication, properties, applications, biological fate, and potential toxicity with emphasis on systems suitable for utilization within the food and beverage industry.

Coenzyme Q10: Clinical Update and Bioavailability

Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ 10) supplementation has been reported to be beneficial in treating a variety of health conditions and diseases, with more than 200 clinical trials investigating its use as a drug or dietary supplement. Numerous reviews of the safety and clinical potential of CoQ10 have been published. Successful treatment and efficacy is dependent on the bioavailability of CoQ 10, which is well known to be poor because of its lipophilic nature and large molecular weight. A number of recent clinical trials on CoQ 10 have investigated new formulations of CoQ10 for improvements in absorption and bioavailability. This review provides an update of clinical efficacy trials using CoQ10 and describes recent advances in formulation technology to improve the bioavailability of CoQ10. The authors also discuss a new method to improve the standards of reporting the bioavailability results of such advanced CoQ10 formulations to help clinicians and consumers make informed decisions.