The role of bifidobacteria in the production of functional products

Abstract

The structure of nutrition of the population of Ukraine currently does not meet the modern principles of rational nutrition and practical dietetics. The problem of organizing and ensuring proper nutrition of people, its adequacy and balance is one of the most important tasks of joint activities. Bifidobacteria are one of the most important groups of intestinal microorganisms that dominate the anaerobic flora of the colon. Bifidobacteria are actively involved in the restoration of normal intestinal microflora in gastrointestinal diseases and after antibiotic treatment. To stimulate their development, it is necessary to use strains of bifidobacteria adapted to milk, to provide the necessary composition of the nutrient medium and growth stimulants for their development, and also to cultivate them together with lactic acid bacteria with high β-galactosidase activity, due to which their own β-galactoside increases. bifidobacteria. Fermented dairy products are the main suppliers of probiotic microorganisms that contribute to the maintenance and restoration of the human microbial ecology. Probiotic cultures that provide a beneficial effect on the consumer's body and normalize the composition and functions of the microflora of the gastrointestinal tract include such types of lacto- and bifidobacteria as Lactobacillus acidophilus, Lactobacillus casei, Bifidobacterium spp. (B. adolescentis, B. animalis ssp. lactis, B. bifidum, B. longum, B. breve). It should be noted that for the majority of microorganisms that are representatives of the normal human intestinal microflora, milk is an unfavorable environment for their development. This is due to the fact that in milk there are practically no low-molecular compounds necessary for the development of microorganisms, such as free amino acids, monosaccharides, etc., and also because most bacteria of the genus Lactobacillus, Lactococcus and Bifidobacterium belong to obligate anaerobes, which negatively act. oxygen dissolved in milk. Therefore, bifidobacteria, related to anaerobes, develop very slowly in milk.