Amounts and species of probiotic lactic acid bacteria affect stimulation of short-chain fatty acid production in fecal batch culture

The effects of lactate and probiotic lactic acid bacteria (LAB) on intestinal fermentation were analyzed using a fecal batch culture. Lactate was efficiently metabolized to butyrate and propionate by butyrate-utilizing bacteria in fecal fermentation. Probiotic LAB could stimulate butyrate and propionate production through their lactate production in fecal fermentation. It was considered that 10(9) cfu/g or more of probiotic LAB would be required to stimulate butyrate and propionate production in the large intestine. Due to the low production of lactate, a larger number of heterofermentative LAB than homofermentative LAB would be required for this stimulation.