The Use of Cellobiose and Fructooligosaccharide on Growth and Stability of <i>Bifidobacterium infantis</i> in Fermented Milk

Abstract

The effects of cellobiose, fructooligosaccharide and their combination on fermentation of skim milk by probiotic Bifidobacterium infantis were evaluated using mean doubling time as a parameter for sustaining growth. The lowest mean doubling time was observed for 2% cellobiose, followed by a combination of 2% fructooligosaccharide (FOS) with 2% cellobiose, while during storage at 4℃ for 4 weeks of fermented milk, no significant differences were observed between fermented milk supplemented with 2% cellobiose and 2% FOS. The highest viability retention during storage was observed for the combination of the two prebiotics, cellobiose and FOS. The results indicate that, in milk supplemented with cellobiose or a combination of cellobiose and FOS, Bifidobacterium infantis remain viable during 4 weeks of storage, suggesting the usefulness of cellobiose as a prebiotic ingredient in fermented products involving bifidobacteria.