Journal of Emerging Scholarship

Because of their potential health benefits, the probiotic supplement market has grown exponentially into a global multi-billion-dollar industry. Consumers use probiotics to support gastrointestinal (GI) and immune health. However, their efficacy depends on their ability to survive the harsh conditions of the GI tract, colonize the intestines, and outcompete other microbes. Understanding probiotic survivability in the GI tract, while accounting for real-world scenarios, is vital for both producers and consumers. In a previous study, it was determined that the commonly used probiotic strain, Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG (LGG), in tablet form, survived passage through an in vitro simulated upper GI tract model. Probiotics are available in various forms, including capsules that are commonly administered with water. This study examined the survival of encapsulated LGG when administered with three commonly consumed beverages in a simulated upper intestinal tract model. Results revealed an increase in LGG survivability in the gastric environment with acidic beverages (coffee [average 2.49 X 10⁷ CFU/mL], Monster Energy^® [average 2.14 X 10⁷ CFU/mL]) as compared to water (average 9.67 X 10⁶ CFU/mL). In contrast, LGG survivability was similar between three beverages in the duodenal stage, as determined by CFU/mL counts and microscopy. This paper will compare the findings with those of the previous study and address the effects of beverages on drug activity and absorption.