Studying the composition of a certain food is not enough to predict its health benefits. Research over the past decades has decisively strengthened the notion that any putative health benefit is best related to the fraction of compounds transferred from ingested foods into the body since the absorption may be incomplete after oral consumption. In other words, the bioavailability of food components is crucial information. Therefore, a variety of in vitro models have been developed to predict their bioaccessibility and bioavailability in the most diverse food matrices and food products. These models can also be applied to study the impact of several endogenous or exogenous factors on the bioaccessibility and bioavailability of nutrients and bioactive compounds, guiding nutrition and food scientists, technologists, and engineers towards the development of strategies to optimize the positive impact of the diet on well-being and quality of life. While bioavailability is ideally examined in human volunteers, in vitro digestion methods, as well as intestinal absorption and microphysiological models, simulate human physiological conditions. Additionally, in vitro methods are alternatives to offset ethical, economical, and experimental limitations associated with in vivo studies conducted either with individuals or animals. This graphical review draws parallels between in vitro models mimicking digestion processes, uptake, absorption, metabolism, and distribution of dietary compounds and human physiology.

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The aim of the study was to evaluate the chemical, physical and nutritional composition and sensory acceptability of different sweet potato cultivars to classify the best genotypes for human consumption. We evaluated ten genotypes extracted from the Germplasm bank of Midwest State University, Brazil. The cultivars were evaluated regarding their sensory acceptability and chemical (reducing sugar; nonreducing sugar; total sugar; pH; total soluble solids; titratable acidity; total soluble solids/titratable acidity ratio; and instrumental colour) and nutritional composition (moisture; ash; protein; lipid; carbohydrate; energy value; total carotenoid; and ascorbic acid). Greater scores (p < 0.05) for overall acceptance were obtained for the white pulp genotypes Amorano, Júlia, UGA 45, and UGA 49. There was a statistical difference (p < 0.05) in the chemical and nutritional composition of sweet potatoes, except for the pH values. Generally, tuber have a light colour (values of L* greater than 50) with a yellow shade (b*) and green subshade (negative a* values). The exception was noticed in the UGA 34 genotype, which presented a higher red shade (positive a* value) and a yellow subshade. The cultivars more indicated for human consumption were the UGA 34 (favorable nutritional profile), UGA 45 (better acceptability and favorable chemical and nutritional composition), and Amorano (better acceptability and favorable chemical composition). On the other hand, the UGA 29 genotype may be characterized as the less appropriated for consumption. That, due to its less acceptance from the consumers and an inferior chemical and nutritional characterization. We conclude that the Brazilian sweet potato cultivars more indicated for human consumption are the UGA 34, UGA 45 and Amorano, considering that present more favorable chemical, nutritional and sensory acceptability characteristics. The UGA 29 genotype may be characterized as less recommended for consumption.

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A palmeira Acrocomia spp, também conhecida como bocaiuva, tem sido explorada de forma extrativista por agricultores de subsistência que vivem na área de ocorrência, gerando fonte de renda e a valorização dos frutos nativos. A bocaiuva é de difícil despolpa, então este estudo tem como objetivo comparar as propriedades químicas e o perfil lipídico das farinhas de bocaiuva despolpadas de forma manual e mecânica. Foram realizadas as análises químicas: umidade, cinzas, lipídios, proteínas, carboidratos e fibras. Os ácidos graxos foram determinados por cromatografia gasosa. Todos os parâmetros químicos diferiram estatisticamente entre as duas farinhas, exceto os valores de proteínas. Os valores de umidade, cinzas e carboidratos foram superiores na farinha da polpa extraída de forma mecânica. Maiores teores de lipídios, fibras e calorias foram encontrados na farinha de despolpa manual. O perfil de ácidos graxos saturados dos óleos da polpa de bocaiuva extraída pelos diferentes métodos foi o mesmo (23%), dos quais o ácido palmítico foi o componente majoritário. Os ácidos graxos poli- e insaturados reduziram na farinha de extração mecânica. Em conclusão, a farinha de bocaiuva obtida de forma manual apresentou maior valor nutricional, presença de ácidos graxos poli- e insaturados.