The Use of Cellobiose and Fructooligosaccharide on Growth and Stability of Bifidobacterium infantis in Fermented Milk

Abstract

The effects of cellobiose,fructooligosaccharide and their combination on fermentation of skim milk byprobiotic Bifidobacterium infantis wereevaluated using mean doubling time as a parameter for sustaining growth. Thelowest mean doubling time was observed for 2% cellobiose, followed by acombination of 2% fructooligosaccharide (FOS) with 2% cellobiose, while duringstorage at 4℃ for 4 weeks of fermented milk, no significant differences wereobserved between fermented milk supplemented with 2% cellobiose and 2% FOS. Thehighest viability retention during storage was observed for the combination ofthe two prebiotics, cellobiose and FOS. The results indicate that, in milksupplemented with cellobiose or a combination of cellobiose and FOS, Bifidobacterium infantis remain viableduring 4 weeks of storage, suggesting the usefulness of cellobiose as aprebiotic ingredient in fermented products involving bifidobacteria.