Liu_2025_Food.Chem_493_146045

Cheese, a nutrient-dense protein-lipid matrix, poses digestion challenges in the elderly populations due to age-related physiological decline. Using a dynamic in vitro gastrointestinal model, this study evaluated the synergistic effects of Protease-DS (P-DS) and Lipase-AP12 (L-AP) supplementation on cheese proteolysis/lipolysis kinetics in elderly conditions. P-DS selectively disrupted protein networks, while L-AP enhanced oil droplet hydrolysis, and their combination synergistically accelerated cheese matrix degradation. Combined supplementation improved gastric emptying performance, surpassing individual enzymes and adult-model benchmarks. Dual-enzyme supplementation increased protein digestibility from 41.89 % to 59.51 % and elevated essential amino acid release. Similarly, lipid bioaccessibility significantly increased from 32.34 % to 70.24 %, outperforming single-enzyme treatments, as confirmed by kinetic modeling of free fatty acid release parameters. The proposed mechanism involves P-DS-mediated protein network disintegration accelerating encapsulated lipid release, and L-AP-mediated lipolytic process facilitating protease accessibility, thereby making this enzyme synergy a potent strategy to optimize nutrient delivery from complex foods for aging populations.