Preparation and characterization of lotus seed starch-fatty acid complexes formed by microfluidization

Using dynamic high pressure microfluidization, we prepared starch-lipid complexes from lotus seed starch (LS) and six saturated fatty acids (FAs) of different carbon chain length and analyzed their semi-crystalline structure and digestibility. Iodine blue value analysis showed the highest complex index (86.3%) was observed between LS and octanoic acid (C8). X-ray diffraction analysis showed crystal structure changed from V6II to V6I type with decreasing FA chain length. Small angle x-ray scattering and differential scanning calorimetry analyses confirmed the presence of a strong V6I-type mass fractal structure with a Bragg distance of 12.3 nm in LS-C8, which can be considered to be a type-II complex with high melting temperature (Tp = 123.98 °C). Scanning electron microscopy results showed the complexes had more spherocrystals with decreasing FA chain length. Compared to other FAs, C8 significantly reduced the LS susceptibility to digestive enzymes, increased slowly digestion starch content (26.06%) and decreased digestion rate (3.59 × 10−2).