Scientists created a special gel mixture using beeswax, gelatin, and chitosan that can safely store and deliver two different types of nutrients at the same time. Think of it like a tiny container that can hold both water-based vitamins (like B12) and oil-based compounds (like quercetin from plants). The gel stayed stable, protected the nutrients well, and released them properly when digested. This breakthrough could lead to better supplements and food products that deliver multiple nutrients more effectively than current options.

The Quick Take

  • What they studied: Can scientists create a special gel that holds both water-loving and oil-loving nutrients at the same time without them separating?
  • Who participated: This was laboratory research testing different gel formulas. No human participants were involved—scientists tested the gels in test tubes and simulated digestion conditions.
  • Key finding: The best gel formula successfully held 95.68% of vitamin B12 and 89.68% of quercetin (a plant nutrient), and released them properly during digestion—much better than expected.
  • What it means for you: Future supplements and fortified foods might work better because they could deliver multiple types of nutrients together. However, these products aren’t available yet, and more testing is needed before they reach consumers.

The Research Details

Scientists created different gel mixtures by combining three main ingredients: beeswax (the waxy substance from beehives), gelatin (a protein from animal collagen), and carboxymethyl chitosan (a fiber-like material from shellfish shells). They tested different ratios of these ingredients to see which combination worked best. The researchers then tested how well these gels could hold water-based nutrients (vitamin B12) and oil-based nutrients (quercetin) at the same time. They also tested how the gels behaved when squeezed, heated, and when they went through a simulated digestion process in the lab.

Most supplements contain either water-based OR oil-based nutrients, but rarely both together effectively. This research matters because many health benefits come from combining different nutrient types. By creating a gel that can hold both, scientists could make supplements that work better and more efficiently deliver multiple nutrients to your body.

This is laboratory research published in a respected food science journal. The study used detailed testing methods to measure how well the gels worked. However, this is early-stage research—it was done in test tubes and simulated digestion systems, not in human bodies. More research is needed to confirm these results work in real people.

What the Results Show

The best gel formula used equal amounts of gelatin and carboxymethyl chitosan mixed with beeswax. This combination created a dense network structure that acted like a sponge, holding 86% of water and 81% of oil. Most importantly, it successfully trapped and protected both types of nutrients: 95.68% of the vitamin B12 and 89.68% of the quercetin stayed inside the gel. When scientists simulated what happens during digestion, the nutrients were released at similar rates (about 81-82% for both types), which is ideal because it means your body would absorb them together. The gel also showed excellent elasticity, meaning it could be squeezed and still return to its original shape—important for products that need to survive handling and storage.

The gel remained stable under different temperature and humidity conditions, which is important for shelf life. The specific combination of ingredients created what scientists call an ‘interpenetrating network’—imagine two fishing nets woven together—which made the gel stronger and more stable. The gel’s ability to hold both water and oil simultaneously suggests it could potentially deliver other nutrient combinations beyond just B12 and quercetin.

Previous attempts to create dual-delivery systems often struggled with nutrients separating or leaking out. This research shows significantly higher encapsulation rates (95.68% and 89.68%) compared to many earlier methods. The balanced release of both nutrient types during digestion is a notable improvement, as earlier systems often released one nutrient much faster than the other.

This research was conducted entirely in laboratory conditions using test tubes and simulated digestion systems, not in human bodies. The study didn’t test how the gel would perform in actual food products or how it would taste. The long-term stability of these gels in real storage conditions wasn’t fully explored. Additionally, only two specific nutrients were tested (B12 and quercetin), so it’s unclear if the gel would work equally well with other nutrient combinations. No human safety testing has been done yet.

The Bottom Line

This research is promising but preliminary. It suggests that beeswax-gelatin-chitosan gels could be used in future supplements and fortified foods, but these products don’t exist yet for consumers. Current recommendation: Continue using established supplements and nutrient sources until these new gel-based products are developed, tested in humans, and approved by regulatory agencies. Confidence level: Low to moderate—this is early-stage research.

This research is most relevant to: supplement manufacturers, pharmaceutical companies, food scientists, and people interested in nutrition innovation. It’s less immediately relevant to average consumers since these products aren’t available yet. People with difficulty absorbing multiple nutrients or those taking complex supplement regimens might eventually benefit most.

This is basic research, so commercial products are likely several years away. Typical development timeline: 2-3 years for further lab testing, 2-5 years for animal studies, 3-7 years for human clinical trials, and regulatory approval could take additional years. Realistic expectation: These products might appear in specialized supplement markets within 5-10 years if development continues successfully.

Want to Apply This Research?

  • Once dual-nutrient products become available, users could track: (1) which dual-nutrient supplements they’re taking, (2) timing of doses relative to meals, (3) any digestive changes or absorption improvements, and (4) energy or health markers they’re monitoring.
  • When these products become available, users could simplify their supplement routine by replacing multiple single-nutrient pills with one dual-nutrient gel product, making it easier to stay consistent with supplementation.
  • Long-term tracking could include: monitoring nutrient deficiency markers (through blood tests), tracking supplement adherence rates, noting any improvements in energy or health markers, and comparing results before and after switching to dual-nutrient formulations.

This research describes laboratory development of a new gel system and has not been tested in humans. These products are not yet available for consumer use. This information is for educational purposes only and should not be used to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Always consult with a healthcare provider before starting any new supplement regimen or making changes to your nutrition plan. Regulatory approval and human safety testing are required before any products based on this research could be marketed to consumers.