Freeze-dried chocolate as a one-bite carrier for calcium, magnesium and vitamin D3: uniform codelivery with enhanced stability, instant disintegration and site-specific release.

Vitamin D deficiency persists worldwide, exacerbating Ca loss and Mg inadequacy. Current supplements suffer from vitamin D3 (VD3) photolability, mineral segregation, and poor bioavailability. In this study, oil-in-water freeze-dried chocolate was developed for the simultaneous delivery of insoluble Ca, soluble Mg, and lipid-soluble VD3. Cryo-EDS, ICP-MS and HPLC revealed homogeneous distributions of Mg in the aqueous phase, VD3 in the oil droplets and Ca throughout the matrix. The medium formula (16.4 g/kg Ca, 8.2 g/kg Mg, and 926 μg/kg VD3) delivered excellent emulsion stability, rheological performance, and acceptable sensory and purchase intention scores. The stability of lipid-encapsulated VD3 markedly increased in the presence of heat, oxidation and UV. In 0.1 M HCl, >88.9% of each nutrient disintegrated within 10 min. In the simulated gastrointestinal fluid, Ca showed a burst release, whereas Mg and VD3 provided sustained release. This shelf-stable, palatable one-bite system resolves multinutrient incompatibility through colloidal structuring, demonstrating strong potential for functional foods and precision nutrition applications.