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Updated: Jul 13, 2026

Individualized Reconstitution of Human Milk Microbiota: A Feasible Approach in Real-World Settings
Published on: February 7, 2025
Effects of a synbiotic milk product on human intestinal ecosystem
M C Casiraghi1, E Canzi, R Zanchi
1Department of Food Science and Microbiology, Division of Human Nutrition, University of Milan, Milan, Italy. maria.casiraghi@unimi.it
Aims:
To investigate the effect of prolonged consumption of a synbiotic milk (Synbiotic) containing Lactobacillus acidophilus (strain 74-2, 10(7) CFU ml(-1)), Bifidobacterium lactis (strain 420, 10(7) CFU ml(-1)) and 2% inulin on colonic ecosystem in healthy humans.
Methods And Results:
A group of 26 healthy subjects, aged 22-47 years, participated in a 6-week placebo-controlled dietary intervention study. After a 2-week baseline period, in which all volunteers consumed 500 ml day(-1) of 2% skimmed milk (Placebo), the study was designed as a randomized, double-blind, two-armed parallel study in which 4-week consumption of 500 ml day portions of Synbiotic or Placebo were compared. Faecal microbial counts, pH, l-lactic acid and bile acid concentrations were assessed before and after the intervention. Synbiotic consumption significantly decreased faecal dry weight (P < 0.01) and l-lactic acid (P < 0.05) concentration, while significantly increased faecal bifidobacteria (P < 0.05) and lactobacilli (P < 0.01) counts.
Conclusion:
The tested synbiotic milk showed its synbiotic nature by enhancing the growth of bifidobacteria and lactobacilli.
Significance And Impact Of The Study:
Scientific support to functional effect of a synbiotic milk.
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