Title:Effect of Prebiotic Supplementation on Probiotic Viability and Physicochemical
Characteristics of Fermented Coconut Water with Bifidobacterium
longum
Volume: 1
Author(s): Meghna Jahajeeah and Wee Sim Choo
Affiliation:
Keywords:
Acetic acid, Bifidobacterium, Cocos nucifera, malic acid, prebiotic, probiotic coconut water, probiotic drink, shikimic acid.
Abstract:
Background: Probiotics and prebiotics are functional ingredients that provide health benefits
to consumers but they are mainly incorporated in dairy products. Designing a non-dairy product in
which probiotics and prebiotics would be incorporated would allow more consumers to benefit from
their advantages.
Objective: This study investigated the effect of supplementation of two different prebiotics, fructooligosaccharide
(FOS) and inulin, on the viability of Bifidobacterium longum ATCC BAA-999 in coconut
water.
Methods: Two concentrations of prebiotics used were 1% and 2%. The physicochemical characteristics
of fermented coconut water with B. longum for 9 h at 37°C and during refrigerated storage at 4°C
for 2 weeks were analyzed. The viability of B. longum in fermented coconut water was maintained
above the recommended therapeutic level (7 log CFU/mL) with or without supplementation with
prebiotics.
Results: Most distinct changes in colour (ΔE > 3) occurred in fermented coconut water compared to
unfermented coconut water. An increase in the total soluble solids was also observed in fermented
coconut water with the increase in the concentration of prebiotics. There were no significant changes
in the clarity, pH, and concentrations of shikimic and malic acids in the fermented coconut water with
or without supplementation with prebiotics over the 2 weeks of storage. Acetic acid production was
observed in the fermented coconut water, with the highest acetic acid production in the fermented coconut
water supplemented with 1% FOS after 2 weeks of storage.
Conclusion: This study demonstrated the potential use of coconut water as a medium to produce a
probiotic drink.