IMPROVING PROTEIN DIGESTION AND AMINO ACID BIOAVAILABILITY BY PROBIOTIC STRAINS
This invention relates to the use of bacterial strains for improving protein digestion and/or increasing amino acid bioavailability in a subject, wherein said bacterial strains are of the species Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis , Lacticaseibacillus paracasei, Lactococcus lactis, Lactobacillus acidophilus , Lactiplantibacillus plantarum and/or Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus or a mixture thereof.
1 . A method for improving protein digestion and/or increasing amino acid bioavailability in a subject, wherein the method comprises administering to the subject one or more bacterial strains of the species Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis , Lacticaseibacillus paracasei, Lactococcus lactis, Lactobacillus acidophilus , Lactiplantibacillus plantarum and/or Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus.
2 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the protein is plant protein.
3 . The method according to claim 2 , wherein the plant protein is legume protein.
4 . The method according to claim 2 , wherein the plant protein is soy protein, pea protein, fava bean protein, chickpea protein and/or lentil protein.
5 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the protein is in powder form.
6 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the one or more bacterial strains are probiotic bacterial strains.
7 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the bacterial strain of the species Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis is strain B420.
8 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the bacterial strain of the species Lacticaseibacillus paracasei is strain Lpc-37.
9 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the bacterial strain of the species Lactococcus lactis is strain Ll-23.
10 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the bacterial strain of the species Lactobacillus acidophilus is strain NCFM.
11 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the bacterial strain of the species Lactiplantibacillus plantarum is strain Lp-115.
12 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the bacterial stain of the species Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus is strain HN001.
13 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein said one or more bacterial strains are administered in the form of a composition selected from food products, food ingredients, functional foods, dietary supplements, and pharmaceutically acceptable formulations.
14 . The method according to claim 13 , wherein said composition further comprises prebiotics.
15 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein said subject is a human selected from an individual with reduced food intake, an individual with reduced energy and/or protein and/or amino acid intake, an individual with high protein and/or energy demand/requirement, vegans, vegetarians, flexitarians, individuals with muscle loss, individuals with sarcopenia, individuals with muscle wasting, athletes and physically active individuals.
16 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the bacterial strain of the species Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis is strain Bl-04.
17 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the method comprises administering strain B420 and strain Bl-04 to the subject.