The fate of probiotics after ingestion

Do your probiotics survive the journey?

From kombucha to probiotic shots and fortified juices, drinks promising “live bacteria” and gut health benefits are rapidly gaining shelf space. The idea is simple: support your microbiome through what you eat and drink

But have you ever wondered about the fate of these beneficial bugs after ingestion?

The rising trend of probiotics

For a long time already, microbiology enthusiasts have known the importance of our gut microbiota and the potential for fermented foods and probiotics to shape your microbiome and to support health and longevity.

Research suggests that probiotics can contribute to health in several ways, including reducing pathogens, promoting epithelial barrier function, and immune response regulation, among others Even beyond the science, the use of probiotic supplements or probiotic-containing foods have become more and more commonplace. In fact, the global market for probiotics is expected to continue growing in the coming years (1). As the popularity of probiotics rises, ensuring their effectiveness becomes more important than ever.

Beyond consuming probiotics for human health, they are also gaining traction in animal nutrition/feed. With increasing concerns around antibiotic growth promoters (AGPs) and a greater appreciation of the role of microbiota ecology of the gastro-intestinal tract probiotics are being explored as alternatives to support animal productivity, health, and gut microbiome balance in livestock (2).

The Journey to the Gut: Survival of the Fittest (Strains)

But have you ever wondered about the fate of these beneficial bugs after ingestion?

In order to perform their beneficial functionality in the colon, they need to arrive there, alive and well, in the first place. On their way to the colon, the microbes face multiple challenges due to the harsh environments they are exposed to. Directly after ingestion, they arrive in the stomach, of which the contents can be so acidic that many bacteria will struggle to survive. When they’ve taken that hurdle and arrive in the small intestine, the battle isn’t over yet. They have to face the pancreatic enzymes and bile components present in the small intestine, many of which can be toxic or otherwise damaging for the microbes.

Not all probiotic strains are equipped to withstand this cascade of challenges, meaning they may never reach the colon in sufficient numbers to be effective. Developers of probiotic products are trying to overcome these hurdles by using strategies such as selecting stronger strains, formulating protective layers around the probiotic supplement, or optimizing co-administration with food, which can help improve survival in the upper GI tract.

Confidence in Probiotic Performance

It is however challenging to quantify the survival of probiotics in the GI tract, as in vivo studies are expensive and invasive, and not all in vitro methods are physiologically relevant. This is where dynamic in vitro GI models, such as TIM Upper GI, offer a powerful solution. By accurately mimicking in vivo conditions, such as dynamic gastric pH and transit times, as well as pancreatic and biliary secretions, these systems enable researchers to quantify probiotic survival. TIM^® can also be employed to study the impact of key factors like bile concentration, formulation, and co-administration with foods under realistic conditions.

TIM^® might be that missing link in your innovation pipeline in strain functionality, stability, and delivery systems, making sure your probiotic will reach their destination..