title: Streptococcus thermophilus and Lactobacillus delbrueckii subsp. bulgaricus survive gastrointestinal transit of healthy volunteers consuming yogurt.
abstract: To date, there is significant controversy as to the survival of yogurt bacteria (namely, Streptococcus thermophilus and Lactobacillus delbrueckii subsp. bulgaricus) after passage through the human gastrointestinal tract. Survival of both bacterial species in human feces was investigated by culture on selective media. Out of 39 samples recovered from 13 healthy subjects over a 12-day period of fresh yogurt intake, 32 and 37 samples contained viable S. thermophilus (median value of 6.3 x 10(4) CFU g(-1) of feces) and L. delbrueckii (median value of 7.2 x 10(4)CFU g(-1) of feces), respectively. The results of the present study indicate that substantial numbers of yogurt bacteria can survive human gastrointestinal transit.
authors.affiliation: Unité d'Ecologie et de Physiologie du Système Digestif, Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique, 78350, Jouy-en-Josas, France.
authors.forename: Denis D G
authors.initials: DD
authors.lastname: Mater
authors.forename: Laurent
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Bretigny
authors.forename: Olivier
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Firmesse
authors.forename: Maria-Jose
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Flores
authors.forename: Agnès
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mogenet
authors.forename: Jean-Louis
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Bresson
authors.forename: Gérard
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Corthier
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015169:Colony Count, Microbial; D005243:Feces / Q000382:microbiology; D005260:Female; D041981:Gastrointestinal Tract / Q000382:microbiology*; D006801:Humans; D048668:Lactobacillus delbrueckii / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D048249:Streptococcus thermophilus / Q000502:physiology*; D015014:Yogurt / Q000382:microbiology*