The effect of encapsulating materials on the survival of probiotics during intestinal digestion: a review

Many studies have demonstrated the sensitivity of probiotics to the bile salt solution. Encapsulation is a useful technique to protect probiotics from the bile salts and other constituent products that it encounters during gastrointestinal transit and improve the delivery of probiotics to large intestine in sufficient amounts for colonization and proliferation in order to exert a beneficial effect on the host. Encapsulation materials are recognized as safe ingredients and can be used in food applications. There is a widespread interest in the improvement of the physical and mechanical stability of the polymers use in probiotics encapsulation. Therefore, the objective of this study is to review the effect of various types of encapsulating materials on the protection and survival of probiotics during intestinal digestion.