Original articleEffect of gastric and small intestinal digestion on lactic acid bacteria activity in a GIS1 simulator

The selection of probiotic strains resistant to gastrointestinal transit is an important stage when developing supplements that contain viable biomass. A total of six strains belonging to different genotypes were tested and compared with both a positive and negative control (Lactobacillus plantarum 5s). Significant differences were found between strains as a result of gastrointestinal transit using the in vitro GIS1 static simulator. The Lactobacillus rhamnosus 428ST strain showed maximum viability as a result of in vitro transit, featuring a survival capacity value, Cs, of over 50 ± 0.01%. The remaining genotypes that were tested showed significant reductions in the enzymes and bile salts at the time of action. The value of the survivability capacity was directly correlated with the synthesis of exopolysaccharides and lactic acid. The test results of the GIS1 system have been compared with those of other studies on gastrointestinal transit resistance that used dynamic models.