Microorganisms and Physicochemical Factors Controlling Biogenic Amines During Cheese Ripening: A Systematic Review

Biogenic amines are nitrogenous compounds formed by amino acid decarboxylation, and their excessive accumulation in cheese may cause adverse health effects. This systematic review aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of probiotic strains and physicochemical factors in reducing biogenic amine levels during cheese ripening. Following PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) guidelines, a comprehensive literature search was conducted in PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, ScienceDirect, and Google Scholar for studies published between 2010 and 2024. Fourteen studies met the inclusion criteria. Among the identified biogenic amines, tyramine and histamine were most frequently reported at high concentrations. The combination of Lactobacillus acidophilus and Lactiplantibacillus plantarum demonstrated the highest efficacy, achieving up to 80% reduction in total biogenic amine levels. Optimal physicochemical conditions, including maintaining a pH range of 5.0-5.4, a ripening temperature around 15 °C, and a maturation period of 3-4 months, enhanced the efficiency of probiotic interventions. Environmental factors such as salt, moisture, fat content, and packaging methods significantly influenced biogenic amine accumulation. Integrating selected probiotics with controlled ripening parameters can minimize biogenic amine levels and improve cheese safety and quality. However, due to heterogeneity in probiotic strains, cheese types, and analytical techniques among the included studies, further standardized and large-scale investigations are required to better understand the mechanisms and optimize strategies for biogenic amine reduction in cheese production.