Water-in-oil-in-water (W/O/W) emulsions were formulated based on rapeseed oil, olive oil, olein and miglyol. Polyglycerol polyricinoleate and sodium caseinate were used as lipophilic and hydrophilic emulsifiers, respectively. Magnesium was encapsulated in the inner aqueous droplets. Emulsion stability was assayed through particle sizing and magnesium release at two storage temperatures (4 and 25 degrees C) over 1 month. Irrespective of the oil nature, both the primary W/O and W/O/W emulsions were quite stable regarding the size parameters. with 10-mu m fat globules and 1-mu m internal water droplets. Magnesium leakage from W/O/W emulsions was influenced by the oil type used in the formulation: the higher leakage values were obtained for the oils characterized by the lower viscosity and the higher proportion of saturated fatty acids. Magnesium release was not due to droplet-globule coalescence but rather to diffusion and/or permeation mechanisms with a characteristic rate tha! t varied over time. In addition. W/O/W emulsions were resistant to various thermal treatments that mimicked that used in pasteurization processes. Finally, when W/O/W emulsions were placed in the presence of pancreatic lipase, the emulsion triglycerides were hydrolysed by the enzyme. These results indicated a possible use of W/O/W emulsions loaded with magnesium ions in food applications.