An inulin-based dressing emulsion as a potential probiotic food carrier

The technological properties of inulin were exploited to develop a physically stable dressing emulsion able to sustain the viability of the probiotic microorganism Lactobacillus paracasei subsp. paracasei DC412, both during storage as well as under conditions simulating those of the human gastrointestinal (GI) tract environment. Cell viability, following their entrapment inside the oil droplets of three emulsion systems differing in the type of emulsifier used (egg yolk, gum arabic/xanthan and whey protein isolate), was found to be lower than that of cells freely suspended in the continuous phase of a yolk-stabilized dressing emulsion, especially in the presence of inulin. This emulsion system was investigated further by applying response surface methodology to establish the relationships between the main factors, storage time, and inulin and yolk content, on one hand, and the response variables, probiotic count before and after treatment with GI track enzyme fluids, consistency index and creaming stability, on the other.

► Development of a physically stable inulin-based dressing as a probiotic carrier.
► Entrapped cells inside the oil droplets of fresh emulsions ensured viability.
► In aged emulsions cells survived better in the aqueous phase.
► Inulin improved physicochemical properties of the emulsion and probiotic viability.
► Dressings can be exploited as potential carriers of probiotic microorganisms.