Application of Probiotics in Foods: A Comprehensive Review of Benefits, Challenges, and Future Perspectives.
- 2025-09-02
- Foods (Basel, Switzerland) 14(17)
- Mirjana Ž Grujović
- Teresa Semedo-Lemsaddek
- Katarina G Marković
- PubMed: 40941204
- DOI: 10.3390/foods14173088
Study Design
- Type
- Review
- Methods
- This comprehensive review discusses recent advancements in the application of probiotics in the food industry, focusing on diverse food matrices, technological and regulatory challenges, and consumer acceptance.
The incorporation of probiotics into food products has gained substantial attention, primarily due to their well-documented health benefits such as modulating gut microbiota, enhancing immune responses, and providing potential therapeutic effects. This comprehensive review discusses recent advancements in the application of probiotics in the food industry, focusing on diverse food matrices, technological and regulatory challenges, and consumer acceptance. Particular emphasis is placed on fermentation-based approaches that enhance both sensory and nutritional attributes, while acting as effective delivery systems for viable probiotics. The impact of matrices such as dairy, meat, cereals, plant-based beverages (e.g., soy or almond milk), and solid plant-derived foods (e.g., fermented vegetables) on probiotic survival, sensory properties, and product acceptability is critically examined. Understanding these interactions is crucial for the development of stable, efficacious, and consumer-oriented probiotic-enriched functional foods.
Research Insights
Lactobacillus acidophilus L-92 was shown to modulate immune function, including suppression of Th2-dominant responses and enhancement of regulatory T-cell activity.
- Effect
- Beneficial
- Effect size
- Small
Consumption of Lactobacillus acidophilus L-92 has been reported to alleviate symptoms of allergic diseases, including atopic dermatitis and allergic rhinitis.
- Effect
- Beneficial
- Effect size
- Moderate
supplementation with Lactobacillus acidophilus L-92 significantly improved total nasal symptom scores, quality of life, and some immunological markers in patients with Japanese cedar pollinosis
- Effect
- Beneficial
- Effect size
- Moderate