Survival of Double-Microencapsulated Bifidobacterium breve in Milk in Simulated Gastric and Small Intestinal Conditions

Bifidobacteria are probiotic organisms that provide both flavor and health benefits when incorporated as live cultures into commercial dairy products. Because bifidobacteria are very sensitive to environmental conditions (acids, temperature, oxygen, bile salts, the presence of other cultures, etc.), their viability in human gastrointestinal tract is limited. The microencapsulation of bifidobacteria is a process to protect them against harsh environmental conditions, thereby increasing their viability while passing through human gastrointestinal tract. To confirm the survival rate of microencapsulated Bifidobacterium breve CBG-C2 in milk, their survival rate was compared with several kinds of free bifidobacteria and lactic acid bacteria in commercial yogurt products under simulated gastric and small intestinal conditions. Double-microencapsulation of the bacteria was employed to increase the survival rate during digestion. The outer layer was covered with starch and gelatin to endure gastric conditions, and the inner layer was composed of a hard oil for the upper small intestinal regions. Almost all microencapsulted bifidobacteria in the milk survived longer than the free bifidobacteria and lactic acid bacteria in the commericial yogurt products under the simulated gastric conditions. Numbers of surviving free bifidobacteria and lactic acid bacteria in the commercial products were significantly reduced, however, the viability of the microencapsulated bificobacteria in the milk remained quite stable under gastric and small intestine conditions over 3$\sim$6 hrs. Thus double-microencapsualtion of bifidobacteria in milk is a promising method for improving the survival of bifidobacteria during the digestive process.