In vivo demonstration of enhanced probiotic effect of co-immobilized Lactobacillus acidophilus and Bifidobacterium bifidum

Abstract

The present study was undertaken to evaluate the effectiveness of co-immobilization as an efficient method for delivering high numbers of viable probiotic cultures to the host for an enhanced probiotic effect, using in vivo mice models. The co-immobilized culture of Lactobacillus acidophilus and Bifidobacterium bifidum was fed to eight groups of conventional mice. A greater persistence of probiotic cultures was noticed in the intestinal contents of the groups fed on co-immobilized cells. Further, the supplementation of diet with co-immobilized culture also resulted in maximum lowering of faecal coliforms and the enzymatic activity as compared to the prestudy level. © 2006 Society of Dairy Technology.