Lactobacilli prebiotics

Bifidobacterium counts in the cecum of rats compared to a control diet, but there was no significant difference in Lactobacillus coimts (Kuda et ah, 2005). Studies carried out on seaweed extracts found that fucoidan also functions as a good prebiotic. Several other studies have also confirmed the positive dietary effects of alginates encouraging the growth of beneficial microbial faima in fecal matter (Wang et ah, 2006). 

Another study produced solid lipid microparticles with two probiotic strains by spray chilling Lactobacillus rhamnosus IMC 501 and Lactobacillusparacasei IMC 502 , prebiotic components, and natural bioactive ingredients. Different types of vegetable fats were tested. It was observed that. 

Tsuda and Miyamoto (2010) compared the prebiotic activity of EPS from a mutant strain of Lactobacillus plantarum isolated from traditional home-made cheese with the prebiotic activities of GOS and inulin against 37 LAB strains. For the seven strains that were positive for prebiotic utilisation, the EPS scored highly for prebiotic activity in comparison to the GOS and inulin prebiotics. 

Most of the health benefits associated with the daily intake of prebiotics are linked to the end products formed during their fermentation by specific bacteria such as Bifidobacteria and Lactobacillus. The major end products of metabolism are strong acids as SCFA, mainly acetate and propionate that lower the pH of the colon producing an antibacterial effect. The selective fermentation of FOS and GOS, with consequent inhibition of pathogenic growth, has been extensively confirmed in several human studies. 

Tsuda, H., Miyamoto, T. (2010). Production of Exopolysaccharide by Lactobacillus plantarum and the prebiotic activity of the exopolysaccharide. Food Science and Technology Research, 16(1), 87-92. 

Andersen, J.M., Barrangou, R., Hachem, M.A., et al. (2012) Transcriptional analysis of prebiotic uptake and catabolism by Lactobacillus acidophilus NCFM. PLoS One 7, e44409. 

Majumder, A., Sultan, A., Jersie-Christensen, R.R., Ejby, M., Schmidt, B.G., Lahtinen, S.J., Jacobsen, S. and Svensson, B. (2011) Proteome reference map of Lactobacillus acidophilus NCFM and quantitative proteomics towards understanding the prebiotic action of lactitol. Proteomics 11, 3470-3481. 

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