Preservation and Nutrition of ε-Polylysine Hydrochloride

ε-Polylysine hydrochloride plays a unique role in elderly nutrition by offering both preservative and potential nutritional benefits. The following outlines its specific effects:  

I. Preservative Function  

Broad-Spectrum Antimicrobial Activity: ε-Polylysine hydrochloride effectively inhibits the growth of common spoilage microorganisms, including Gram-positive bacteria, Gram-negative bacteria, yeasts, and molds. Adding it to elderly food products helps prevent microbial growth and spoilage, extending the shelf life of food while ensuring that it remains safe for consumption.  

Maintaining Food Quality: By suppressing microbial growth,ε-polylysine hydrochloride prevents undesirable changes such as off-flavors, discoloration, texture degradation, and spoilage during storage and transportation. This helps preserve the original taste, aroma, and texture of food, allowing elderly individuals to enjoy high-quality meals, enhance their appetite, and improve their overall eating experience.  

Synergistic Effect with Other Preservation Techniques: ε-Polylysine hydrochloride can be used in combination with other preservation methods, such as refrigeration and modified atmosphere packaging (MAP), to achieve enhanced food safety and stability. This synergistic effect is particularly important for elderly food products, as it enables minimized chemical preservative usage while ensuring food safety and quality across various storage conditions.  

II. Nutritional Function  

Amino Acid Source: ε-Polylysine hydrochloride is a homopolymer composed of L-lysine units linked via α-amide and ε-amide bonds. In the human body, it can be digested and broken down into L-lysine, an essential amino acid. For elderly individuals, lysine supplementation is crucial for maintaining nitrogen balance, stimulating protein synthesis, enhancing immune function, and supporting tissue repair.  

Enhancing Mineral Absorption: Lysine plays a vital role in mineral absorption, particularly for calcium. It forms soluble complexes with calcium and other minerals, enhancing their bioavailability and facilitating better absorption in the digestive system. As aging often leads to accelerated calcium loss and osteoporosis, ε-Polylysine hydrochloride, through its lysine content, can improve calcium uptake, potentially reducing the risk of osteoporosis and promoting bone health in elderly individuals.  

Metabolic Regulation: Lysine is also involved in various metabolic processes, including fat metabolism. It helps regulate metabolic functions, reducing excessive fat accumulation while maintaining a healthy body weight and metabolic balance. This can contribute to the prevention of obesity-related chronic diseases, such as cardiovascular disease and diabetes, making it a valuable component for elderly health management.  

ε-Polylysine hydrochloride serves as both a natural preservative and a potential nutritional enhancer in elderly food products. While prolonging shelf life and maintaining food quality, it also offers lysine-derived benefits such as enhanced mineral absorption, improved metabolism, and immune support. This dual functionality makes it an ideal additive for elderly nutrition, ensuring both safety and health benefits in food products.