Millions of people follow vegan and vegetarian diets that have purported health benefits, but those diets can lack essential nutrients, such as vitamins B12 and D3, if not well-planned or supplemented correctly.
Researchers have now developed a strawberry-flavored gummy candy with these essential vitamins, which contains no animal products, so vegans and vegetarians can meet their recommended daily allowances (RDA), according to Science Daily.
The researchers reported their results in ACS Food Science & Technology.
Some vitamins and minerals, such as vitamin B12, are found exclusively in animal products, while others are obtained from other sources. For instance, we can make vitamin D3 when our skin is exposed to sunlight, but most of us do not go outside to meet our requirement for this vitamin. Therefore, we rely on fish, eggs, and organ meats, but vegans and some vegetarians do not eat them.
So, to avoid the pitfalls of vitamin deficiencies, vegans and vegetarians often take supplements, but it is a bit been challenging to put both vitamin B12 and vitamin D3 in one single pill because of their differing solubilities.
The researchers said one solution to this problem is to put these vitamins into emulsion-filled gels, like gummy candies.
Previous studies have shown that the plant-based polysaccharide called pectin can be used as a gelling agent in animal product-free foods.
So, Prof. Samantha Pinho and her colleagues wanted to see if they could use only plant-based ingredients, such as pectin, to produce a gummy candy enriched with vitamins B12 and D3 that would be acceptable to consumers, according to Science Daily.
The researchers made an emulsion by combining citrate buffer, inulin, gum arabic, flaxseed oil, and vitamin D3. They then separately made the pectin gel, dissolving a type of pectin, calcium chloride, and vitamin B12 in a citrate buffer.
The researchers rapidly stirred the emulsion into the pectin gel with sugar, producing an emulsion-filled gel. The gel then became a reddish gummy material after it dried. The researchers added a natural strawberry flavor and molded the gel into half-inch-wide candies.
Using sensory tests, 120 untrained panelists gave these gummies high scores for taste, color, aroma, and overall acceptability. More than 50% of the panelists said they would buy the vitamins-enriched gummy, while another 36% said they might buy the product.
The researchers said, “Our results pave the way to make food products more nutritious.”
