Development of milk powder containing Lactobacillus plantarum NCIMB 8826 immobilized with prebiotic hi-maize starch and survival under simulated gastric and intestinal conditions

The objectives of this study were to develop a probiotic milk powder containing Lactobacillus plantarum NCIMB 8826 immobilized with prebiotic Hi-maize starch and to analyze cell viability after spray drying and exposure to simulated gastric and intestinal conditions. Milk powders containing free L. plantarum and cells immobilized with Hi-maize starch were assessed. Powders were evaluated during storage at 4 °C for 15 days. After spray drying, at 0 and 15 days of storage both treatments had over 8 log CFU/g of viable cells and there were higher viable counts found for immobilized cells compared to free cells after 120 min in simulated gastric fluid. At 15 days of storage, immobilized cells had higher viable counts than free cells after exposure to simulated intestinal fluid for 120 min. The combined probiotic and prebiotic milk powder had stable viable cell counts at refrigerated storage conditions and under simulated gastric and intestinal transit.