The present invention is a yogurt product that may be consumed by dogs and other mammalian pets. The yogurt product is in an unflavored form comprising as essential constituents: (A) 0% to 88% by weight water; (B) 0.2% to 25% by weight of a no-fat protein component selected from the group consisting of skim milk and cultured skim milk; (C1) 0.001% to 6% by weight sugar component comprising: (C1) 0.001% to 6% polydextrose and (C2) 0.001% to 6% Glycoses and Galactoses; (D) 2% to 8% by weight milk derived solids; (E) 0.2% to 2.5% by weight stabilizers and emulsifiers; and (F) at least one probiotic microorganism. The yogurt product may be refrigerated and served as a mousse, frozen dessert, or as a fermented yogurt drink similar to Ayran or Kefir. A method for producing the yogurt product is also disclosed herein.

The present invention relates to a novel Lactobacillus strain that is not attacked by common phages and a novel Lactobacillus strain with improved cell count stability, its use in the manufacture of fermented milk-based products, and novel milk based products containing the strain.

The probiotic composition comprises at least one lactic acid bacteria strain, preferably Lactobacillus with intestinal tropism, for use in promoting juvenile growth in livestock, with stimulation of linear growth and/or of IGF-1 level. Exemplary lactic acid bacteria include Lactobacillus plantarum, Lactobacillus fermentum, Lactobacillus casei, Lactobacillus paracasei and Lactobacillus rhamnosus. The strains can be selected in a mouse model. The invention also relates to a probiotic treatment method using this composition.

The application discloses Lactobacillus strains having a beneficial effect on the metabolic health on a mammalian subject. Further disclosed is compositions comprising such strains and the use thereof for improving the metabolic health or for lowering the blood glucose level in a mammalian subject.

The application discloses Lactobacillus strains having a beneficial effect on the metabolic health on a mammalian subject. Further disclosed is compositions comprising such strains and the use thereof for improving the metabolic health or for lowering the blood glucose level in a mammalian subject.

A digestive product includes a probiotic component and an immune modulator, such as transfer factor and/or a nanofraction immune modulator. The digestive product may also contain a prebiotic component, such as one or more of galactooligosaccharides, xylooligosaccharides, and fructooligosaccharides. The probiotic component may be encapsulated, such as probiotic micro beadlets.

The invention relates to self-assembling microparticles comprising a solid matrix and probiotic bacteria, wherein the solid matrix comprises soybean protein and a divalent or trivalent metal, and wherein the probiotic bacteria are distributed throughout the solid matrix; said matrix protects said probiotic bacteria during processing, storage, as well as during transit through the gastrointestinal tract, thus prolonging their lifetime and facilitating release into the intestine and improving their probiotic effect. The present invention also relates to the method for obtaining the self-assembling microparticles and to the products and compositions incorporating them.

Inorganic anions nitrate and nitrite influence metabolic rate and glucose homeostasis. Infusion of nitrite iv caused an acute drop in resting energy expenditure (oxygen consumption) and nitrate, when given perorally, caused a reduction in oxygen consumption during exercise and a depression of the increase in blood glucose observed after an oral glucose tolerance test. The doses of nitrate and nitrite did not cause any detectable change in methemoglobin levels of blood. Also, nitrate and nitrite did not alter lactate levels in blood. This discovery provides useful treatments to regulate the energy expenditure and glucose homeostasis of a mammal by administration of inorganic nitrite and/or nitrate.

Inorganic anions nitrate and nitrite influence metabolic rate and glucose homeostasis. Infusion of nitrite iv caused an acute drop in resting energy expenditure (oxygen consumption) and nitrate, when given perorally, caused a reduction in oxygen consumption during exercise and a depression of the increase in blood glucose observed after an oral glucose tolerance test. The doses of nitrate and nitrite did not cause any detectable change in methemoglobin levels of blood. Also, nitrate and nitrite did not alter lactate levels in blood. This discovery provides useful treatments to regulate the energy expenditure and glucose homeostasis of a mammal by administration of inorganic nitrite and/or nitrate.

The disclosure provides a method of freeze-drying encapsulated cells, the method comprising at least two consecutive incubation steps, wherein the encapsulated cells are incubated in each incubation step in an incubation solution containing cryoprotectant over a suitable period of time, wherein the concentration of cryoprotectant in the incubation solution is increased with each subsequent incubation step. The disclosure also provides freeze dried cells that are obtained by this method as well as various uses of these cells as pharmaceutical, food additive or additive in cosmetics. The disclosure also provides a composition that contains skim milk, glycerol and a carbohydrate.