Microbial Community Variations and Bioconversion Improvements during Soybean-Based Fermentation by Kefir Grains

Soybeans possess unexpected flavors and are difficult to be absorbed by the gastrointestinal tract. Kefir grain fermentation provides diverse strains and bioactive compounds, which may enhance flavor and bioaccessibility. Third-generation sequencing was applied to analyze the microbial diversity in milk and soybean kefir grains in this study. In both types of kefir grains, the most common bacterial genus was Lactobacillus, and their fungal communities were dominated by Kazachstania. Lactobacillus kefiranofaciens was the most abundant species in kefir grains, while Lactobacillus kefiri showed a higher proportion in soybean kefir grains. In addition, the quantification of free amino acids and volatile flavor compounds in soybean solution and soybean kefir have shown the increased content of glutamic acid and a decreased amount of unpleasant beany flavor compounds, demonstrating that the nutritive value and sensory properties of soybean can be improved by kefir grain fermentation. Finally, the bioconversion of isoflavones during fermentation and in vitro digestion was evaluated, suggesting that fermentation is beneficial for aglycone formation and absorption. To conclude, kefir fermentation is proposed to change the microbial structure of kefir grains, promote the nutritional value of soybean-based fermented products, and provide possible solutions for the development of soybean products.