Acta Scientiarum Polonorum Technologia Alimentaria

Abstract The aim of this study was to evaluate cholesterol uptake by Lb. acidophilus isolates in artificial gastric and duodenal fluids. Studied Lb. acidophilus isolates showed various abilities to uptake cholesterol from MRS broth and artificial GIT fluids. From artificial duodenal fluid Lb. acidophilus isolates removed more cholesterol (from 0.6% to 2.9%) than from gastric fluid (from 3.8% to 13.5%). Even if bacteria had no possibility to grow in artificial GIT fluids, the cholesterol uptake by bacteria cells took place. Lb. acidophilus isolates survived worse in simulated gastric or duodenal fluids than in MRS broth. The initial number of bacteria ranged from 6.2 log CFU/mL to 7.1 log CFU/mL, and viability in artificial gastric fluid was 60.6-81.9% of log of the initial number of bacteria. Viability in artificial duodenal fluid was 35.1-87.3%.