A computer controlled model-developed to predict the bioaccessibility of lipolytic compounds in food and medicine-has been validated for fat soluble vitamins from processed vegetables. The system shows similar results as compared to in vivo data obtained with the same meals. The model offers a helpful tool to study the bioaccessibility of lypophilic compound in food, for example in relation to processing and food composition.
The TNO gastro-Intestinal Model (TIM) very closely simulates the successive dynamic conditions in the gastrointestinal tract, such as the pH curves and concentrations of (pro-) enzymes in the stomach and small intestine, concentrations of bile salts in the different parts of the gut, and the kinetics of passage of chyme through the stomach and intestine (Havenaar et al., 1996; Minekus et al., 1995; Minekus and Havenaar, 1996, 1998).
In this model the digestibility and availability for absorption of nutrients as well as the stability of specific ingredients (e.g. active proteins, peptides) can be studied.
A specific system has been developed to remove the bio-accessible mixed-micelles. The system can be used to study the bioaccessibility of fat-soluble (lypophilic) compounds that are incorporated into the mixed micelles prior to absorption, such as fat soluble vitamins, and fat soluble medicines.