Work

Calcium and magnesium improve Lactobacillus bulgaricus survival via membrane and metabolic protection

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: : Spray drying is widely used for probiotic powder production, but low bacterial survival limits industrial application. Improving cell tolerance to spray-drying stress remains a major challenge. The purpose of this work was to investigate the underlying mechanisms by which calcium (Ca 2+ ) and magnesium ions (Mg 2+ ) protect Lactobacillus bulgaricus and increase its survival during spray drying. Proteomic analysis revealed that spray drying severely impaired fatty acid metabolism and the glycolytic pathway in Lactobacillus bulgaricus . The addition of Ca 2+ (10 mmol/L) or Mg 2+ (20 mmol/L) led to significant up-regulation of the genes related to these pathways, concurrently increasing Ca 2+ /Mg 2+ ATPase activity after spray drying. The maintenance of membrane integrity by these two ions was achieved through the reduction of depolarization and membrane damage, with a concomitant reduction in lipid oxidation of 18–22%. In addition, they increased the intracellular ATP levels (1.86–2.08 times) and maintained membrane fluidity by increasing the unsaturated fatty acid content. These effects synergistically stabilize energy metabolism and the membrane structure, resulting in an increased survival rate. Overall, this study demonstrated that Ca 2+ and Mg 2+ enhance the spray drying tolerance of Lactobacillus bulgaricus by coordinating lipid homeostasis and bioenergetics, providing a practical strategy to improve probiotic stability.

Source: LWT

DOI: 10.1016/j.lwt.2025.118584

Authors: Jialei Sun, Haiyue Niu, Bin Li, Yu Wang, Xi Chen, Xue Han

Institutions: Harbin Institute of Technology, Huzhou College, Shenyang Agricultural University

Language: English

Topic: Probiotics and Fermented Foods

Subfield: Food Science

Field: Agricultural and Biological Sciences

Domain: Life Sciences

SDG: Zero hunger

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $3,240