Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 18, 2026

Novel Production Protocol for Small-scale Manufacture of Probiotic Fermented Foods
Published on: September 10, 2016
[Intake of fermented milk containing Lactobacillus casei DN-114 001 and its effect on gut flora]
R Tormo Carnicer1, D Infante Piña, E Roselló Mayans
1Unidad de Gastroenterología Infantil y Nutrición, Hospital Materno-Infantil Vall d'Hebron de Barcelona, España. tormo42@yahoo.es
Objective:
To study the gut flora in infants who received fermented milk containing Lactobacillus casei and Streptococcus termophilus and its effect on secretory immunoglobulin levels.
Material And Methods:
An experimental, randomized, prospective, parallel group study was carried out. Thirty-five infants were included (18 in the treatment group and 17 in the control group) with a mean age of 2 years (SD: 0.6 years; range: 1-3 years). The experimental group received both fermented milk (0.5 l/day) containing L. casei and S. termophilus for 6 weeks and standard cow's milk for the following 6 weeks. The control group received standard cow's milk (0.5 l/day) for 12 weeks. Secretory IgA levels in saliva were evaluated in the experimental group at the start of the study (baseline levels) and 6 weeks later. In both groups, stools were collected to study gut flora at 0, 6 and 12 week.
Results:
Secretory IgA levels significantly increased (p =0.0063) from a mean baseline value of 2.5 mg/dl to a mean of 3.4 mg/dl at 6 weeks. Gram-negative aerobic flora were decreased in the experimental group after 6 weeks compared with the control group (p =0.0203). The number of infants with Lactobacillus spp in their gut flora was greater in the experimental group than in the control group at week 6 and this difference was statistically significant (p =0.028) at week 12. Conclusion The present study provides evidence of L. casei survival in the gastrointestinal tract and of its effect of increasing secretory IgA.
Related Concept Videos
Microbes in the Production of Fermented Foods
Probiotics
Microbes in Food Production
Microbiota of the Large Intestine
Development of Human Microbiota
What is Monogastric Digestion?
