Impact of varying chain-length fatty acids on the retrogradation of mung bean starch-soybean protein isolate gels: Induced changes in morphology, rheology, and water distribution

This study systematically evaluated the impact of different fatty acids (LA, lauric acid; MA, myristic acid; PA, palmitic acid; SA, stearic acid; 5 % w/w) with soybean isolate protein (SPI, 10 % w/w) on the structural and anti-retrogradation properties of mung bean starch gels. The results showed that fatty acids and SPI interacted with starch during the pasting process, disrupted the integrity network, reduced the order and viscoelasticity of the system, and depended on the length of carbon chains. Notably, under the emulsification of SPI, long-chain fatty acids (e.g., palmitic acid 64.33 % and stearic acid 65.57 %) formed complexes with starch, significantly limiting their release. During 30 days of storage, SPI and fatty acids synergistically retained moisture (e.g., 18 % lower syneresis in ternary gels vs. control starch gels) and reduced chromatic aberration (ΔE < 5.7) and hardness (282.06 g–388.07 g). This was favorable for maintaining the quality of the gelled food during its shelf life and promoted the precise application of fatty acids in the gel system.