Probiotics are all over the place nowadays. People are getting more informed about the advantages of probiotics. Probiotics are being sought out to help with digestive problems and the positive effect they provide for women’s sexual health and also support their immune systems. The traditional approach to probiotics was as yogurt or dairy items. But, with the ease of supplementing on the go, this market has changed to other methods like tablets, capsules, and powders.
Step 1 – Probiotics Strain Selection
Each strain is unique in its characteristics and provides specific advantages. Certain strains promote a healthy immune system, while others aid in the digestion of lactose. It’s not tricky that you should produce supplements of high quality. It’s ideal to have top-quality probiotics’ raw ingredients. The selected strains must remain in the gut to demonstrate their effectiveness.
The genus that is associated with each of the most common probiotics that are used is:
Lactobacillus
Lactobacillus is a group of lactic acid-producing friendly bacteria that comprise many of the 400 regular probiotic species in the human body.
Bifidobacterium
Bifidobacterium generally colonizes the human colon, as with Lactobacillus species, producing lactose. Probiotics are vital bacteria in the intestine, creating a microbial barrier against undesirable bacteria. Some Bifidobacteria species (including B. infantis, B. Breve, and B. longum) attach to the intestine’s mucosa and block the attachment of harmful bacteria.
Bacillus
The Bacillus Genus is a probiotic bacteria that produce spores. The spore acts as an encasement to protect it, which allows the storage of food items for a long time till it’s ready to be eaten and can survive in the stomach. Studies have shown that the spore-like protein coating on Bacillus species can allow them to withstand stomach acid, get inside the small intestine to sprout, and then multiply. Additionally, studies have confirmed that Bacillus species may tolerate bile and allow it to thrive in the small intestine.
Streptococcus
One of the species in this family, Streptococcus thermophilus, is utilized by the dairy sector to aid in fermenting yogurt, as well as different varieties of cheese.
Step 2 – Media Formulation
Alongside a potent formula containing the right raw materials, selecting suitable strains for acid resistance naturally is crucial. It is also essential to be sure to test them for intestinal viability. The strains you choose will then undergo the process of fermentation and stabilization.
Bio-processing labs study the probiotic strain to determine the parameters that can be controlled and what nutrients are best suited for the growth of the strain. Probiotic manufacturers can assist in this research. Once the specific combination of ingredients and process parameters are confirmed, large-scale production may begin.
Step 3 – Fermentation
The essential ingredients for the production of probiotics can be found all over the world. Additionally, probiotics are designed to keep their quality and freshness. The process of cultivating bacteria can take anywhere from 6 to 8 weeks. It is essential to be patient when the strains are being cultivated. Most often, the number of strain IDs is exclusive to the manufacturer of the plant material. It would be best to rely on a specific supplier since other suppliers can only offer specific strain IDs. Other raw materials might be available in a different quantity than you require at the contracted manufacturer, which may delay processing time.
All equipment and nutrients are sterilized during fermentation to remove unwanted and accidental contamination. The strain is then added to the media within a large tank. The strain grows within the warm and nutritious ingredients bath until it reaches the desired number CFU (CFU – Colony-forming Units). In this process, metabolites are formed due to the bacterial metabolic process of converting nutrients. Probiotics are challenging to create and require significant extra age to ensure that every strain has the claims on the label.
Step 4 – Centrifugation
Once the cultures are ready, you can separate probiotic strains from metabolites. The stability of probiotics is a different aspect that requires careful monitoring during the probiotics manufacturing process. Probiotic products lose their freshness/stability when they are packed. Various methods are used to maintain the supplements’ stability and efficacy for long-term storage. These processes are essential and affect the probiotic strains’ viability and suitability for use.
- Refrigeration – Probiotic bacteria are exposed to lower temperatures.
- Avoiding hot or humid environments will keep the bacteria from being exposed to humidity. This step requires a variety of drying techniques.
- Freeze Drying – A lengthy but gentler procedure.
- Spray Drying is a shorter process characterized by higher temperatures, but not so high that bacteria can’t thrive.
Step 5 – Blending and Bottling
The above powder is one strain. Other probiotic powders can be blended into a multi-strain formulation to create an evenly dispersed, well-balanced mixture. In addition to probiotics, other essential ingredients can be blended with probiotics, such as prebiotics, flavouring ingredients, binders to create different dosage forms, and ingredients that complement the probiotic’s health benefits as well as other ingredients. The mix is packaged in its final dosage forms, such as capsules, tablets, or powder.
Probiotics are susceptible to environmental conditions like humidity, temperature, and light. The conditions vary between strains and impact the time the product expires. Thus, they must be packaged carefully and ready to be shipped. They must be shielded against direct sun, extreme temperatures, and humidity.
