Probiotic Bifidobacterium animalis ssp. lactis Probio-M8 improves the fermentation and probiotic properties of fermented milk

Probiotics are increasingly used as starter cultures to produce fermented dairy products; however, few studies have investigated the role of probiotics in milk fermentation metabolism. The current study aimed to investigate whether adding <i>Bifidobacterium animalis</i> ssp. <i>lactis</i> Probio-M8 (Probio-M8) as a starter culture strain could improve milk fermentation by comparing the physico-chemical characteristics and metabolomes of fermented milks produced by a commercial starter culture with and without Probio-M8. Our results showed that adding Probio-M8 shortened the milk fermentation time and improved the fermented milk texture and stability. Metabolomics analyses revealed that adding Probio-M8 affected mostly organic acid, amino acid, and fatty acid metabolism in milk fermentation. Targeted quantitative analyses revealed significant increases in various metabolites related to the sensory quality, nutritive value, and health benefits of the probiotic fermented milk, including five organic acids (acetic acid, lactic acid, citric acid, succinic acid, and tartaric acid), five essential amino acids (valine, arginine, leucine, isoleucine, and lysine), glutamic acid, and two essential fatty acids (α-linolenic acid and docosahexaenoic acid). Thus, applying probiotics in milk fermentation is desirable. This study has generated useful information for developing novel functional dairy products.