Lactobacillus Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Lactobacillus, including details on probiotics, digestion, diet, health, lactobacillus acidophilus.

Lactobacillus fermentum CRL 722 is able to deliver active alpha-galactosidase activity in the small intestine of rats.

LeBlanc JG, Piard JC, Sesma F, de Giori GS

Centro de Referencia para Lactobacilos (CERELA-CONICET). Chacabuco 145, San Miguel de Tucumán, Tucumán, Argentina (T4000ILC). leblanc@cerela.org.ar

alpha-galactooligosaccharides (alpha-GOS) found in legumes such as soybeans can cause gastrointestinal disorders since mammals lack alpha-galactosidase (alpha-Gal) in the small intestine which is necessary for their hydrolysis. Lactobacillus fermentum CRL 722 is a lactic acid bacterium (LAB) capable of degrading alpha-GOS due to its elevated alpha-Gal activity. When conventional rats were fed live L. fermentum CRL 722 or cell-free extracts of this strain, a short-lived alpha-Gal activity was detected in the upper gastrointestinal tract. The safety of this LAB was also assessed. L. fermentum CRL 722 could thus be used as a vehicle to safely confer alpha-Gal in the small intestine of monogastric animal.

Published 8 July 2005 in FEMS Microbiol Lett, 248(2): 177-82.
Full-text of this article is available online (may require subscription).

© 2004-2008 Lactobacillus Research Today. All Rights Reserved.