The alternative probiotic

Over the years probiotics became synonymous with a healthy lifestyle, as evidence has shown that when these “live organisms” is consumed in adequate amounts it can promote immune and digestive health.?Lactic acid bacteria (LAB) are the most commonly used probiotics, which can be obtained from supplements or food.?Dairy products are mostly supplemented with probiotic strains from Bifidobacteria and Lactobacillus species.

The problem with these vegetative bacteria in food is its inability to maintain viability throughout storage.?By the end of shelf-life the chances are likely that the product contains less than the aimed amount, and will further be reduced during the digestive transit.?Very few labs offer strain specific probiotic testing on food products, which also makes it difficult to know and control how many probiotics is viable at the end of shelf-life.??

Although encapsulation techniques, processes and storage conditions have been investigated to protect the bacteria and prolong its survival, it is still not general practice. Alternatively, to LAB bacteria, other species have also proven to have probiotic benefits.

Strains belonging to Bacillus coagulans have also been commercialised as a probiotic. What makes it different from LAB is that it is a spore-forming bacteria, which enables the bacterium to remain dormant and protected until conditions are favourable.?Therefore B. coagulans can survive processing, intrinsic parameters, storage, and gestational transit better than LAB. The spores will only germinate and proliferate once it enters the gut where temperature, moisture and nutrients are sufficient. Bacillus coagulans also requires no refrigeration, can be used in dairy and non-dairy products.?This allows the manufacturer to easier guarantee that the product will contain the desired value of probiotics by the end of shelf-life.

Innovative Research Solutions (IRS) is one of the only laboratories in South Africa that offers B. coagulans analysis for research and industry. Synercore is the proud distributor of SACCO System’s BC4 Bacillus coagulans probiotic culture. To try B. coagulans in your food product, contact Synercore or IRS.

Author: Anneri Carinus

"Over the years probiotics became synonymous with a healthy lifestyle"