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Growth characteristics of bifidobacteria in infant formulas
1Minnesota-South Dakota Dairy Foods Research Center, Dairy Science Department, South Dakota State University, Brookings 57007-0647, USA.
Insights
Bifidobacteria growth in infant formulas varies by species and formula type. Milk-based formulas generally supported the best bifidobacteria growth, while casein hydrolysate-based formulas showed the lowest growth rates.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Food Science
- Probiotics
Background:
- Bifidobacteria are crucial gut bacteria for infant health.
- Understanding their growth in infant formulas is vital for nutritional product development.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the growth characteristics of four Bifidobacterium species in different infant formulas.
- To determine species-specific and formula-dependent growth patterns.
Main Methods:
- Four Bifidobacterium species were cultured anaerobically at 37°C.
- Inoculation was performed in soy, milk, and casein hydrolysate-based infant formulas, plus nonfat milk.
- Growth was monitored for 24 hours, assessing logarithmic growth phases and generation times.
Main Results:
- Growth patterns were species-specific and formula-dependent.
- Bifidobacterium longum and Bifidobacterium breve exhibited similar generation times.
- Bifidobacterium infantis showed the shortest generation times across all formulas.
- Milk-based formulas supported the highest bifidobacteria counts, while casein hydrolysate-based formulas yielded the lowest.
Conclusions:
- Bifidobacteria growth in infant formula is influenced by both the bacterial species and the formula composition.
- Milk-based infant formula is optimal for supporting the growth of these Bifidobacterium species.
Abstract:
Four species of bifidobacteria, Bifidobacterium bifidum (ATCC 15696), Bifidobacterium breve (ATCC 15700), Bifidobacterium infantis (ATCC 15697), and Bifidobacterium longum (ATCC 15708), were grown anaerobically at 37 degrees C in lactobacilli MRS broth with 0.5% cysteine-HC1 and inoculated at 2.5% into three types of infant formula (based on soy, or milk, or casein hydrolysate) and in nonfat milk followed by incubation at 37 degrees C for 24 h. In most cases, the logarithmic phase of growth for all species varied from the first 8 to 12 h postinoculation. Generation times for B. longum and B. breve were similar, and times for B. infantis were shortest, in all of the formulas. Trends for lactic acid production for all species in all the formulas were similar to trends for acetic acid production. Counts for formulas based on soy or milk were similar for all species except B. bifidum, and those for casein-hydrolyzed formula were always lowest for all species except B. bifidum, for which count was maximal with the formula based on soy. Results suggest that growth characteristics of bifidobacteria in infant formula were species specific and formula dependent and that growth was maximal in the formula based on milk.