Abstract
Survival of lactic acid bacteria in simulated digestive juice in vitro was investigated. The bacteria used in this study were LB (Lactobacillus delbrueckii subsp. bulgaricus SBT0164), ST (Streptococcus thermophilus SBT1035), and 3 strains of Lactobacillus acidophilus group (LA1: Lactobacillus acidophilus SBT 2062, LA2: L. acidophilus SBT2074, and LG: Lactobacillus gasseri strain Yukijirushi). The L. acidophilus group strains survived well in simulated gastric and small intestinal juice. LG could survive in simulated gastric juice (pH 2.5) for up to 3 hr of incubation, and showed the best survival in the strains. Since they multiplied in the simulated small intestinal juice (MRS broth containing 0.1-1.0% oxgall powder), they were considered to reach the intestine alive and colonise in the gut, and thus their suitability for use as probiotics was noted. LB and ST survived poorly in the simulated gastric juice, therefore, almost of viable cells seemed to be diminished in the stomach after intake. Since they also suvived poorly in the simulated small intestinal juice, even if they survived through the stomach, they also seemed to be diminished in the small intestine.
