Preliminary Data on the Ratio of D(-)-Lactate and L(+)-Lactate Levels in Various Lactic Acid Bacteria as Evaluated using an Enzymatic Method

This study evaluated the levels of D(-)-lactate and L(+)-lactate, and the ratio of D(-)-lactate to total lactate (D(-)-lactate + L(+)-lactate) of 15 lactic acid bacteria (LAB) using an enzymatic method. D(-)-lactate and L(+)-lactate levels in the LAB ranged from 0.31 to 13.9 mM and 0.76 to 39.3 mM, respectively, in Bifidobacterium sp.; 1.08 to 11.7 mM and 0.69-13.0 mM in Lactobacillus sp.; 0.72 to 20.3 mM and 0.98 to 32.3 mM in Leuconostoc sp., and 33.0 mM and 39.2 mM in Pediococcus acidilacti KCCM 11747. The ratio of the range of D(-)-lactic acid to total lactic acid was 28.98%-45.76% in Bifidobacterium sp., 41.18%-61.02% in Lactobacillus sp., 29.85%-42.36% in Leuconostoc sp., and 45.71% in P. acidilacti KCCM 11747. In the future, there is a need to test for D(-)-lactate in various fermented products to which different LAB have been added and study the screening of LAB used as probiotics that produce various concentrations of D(-)-lactate.