A use of a Lactobacillus reuteri GMNL-263 in decreasing blood lipid levels is disclosed. Lactobacillus reuteri GMNL-263 (accession No.: CCTCC M 209263) specifically inhibits gene expression related to pro-inflammatory factor and lipid synthesis and promotes gene expression related to cholesterol metabolism. Lactobacillus reuteri GMNL-263 is utilized to produce a composition for decreasing blood lipid levels, thereby achieving the aim of hyperlipidemia treatment.

The present invention relates generally to the production of steviol glycosides. Provided is a method for enzymatically providing a modified steviol glycoside, comprising incubating a steviol glycoside substrate in A the presence of sucrose and the glucansucrase GTF180 of Lactobacillus reuteri strain 180, or a mutant thereof having the desired transglycosylation activity. Also provided are modified steviol glycosides obtainable by a method of the invention, and the use thereof as low-glycemic sweetener.

Lactobacillus reuteri strain having NCIMB accession number 42835 is from a novel phylogenetic clade and has unique immune-stimulatory properties and enhanced ecological performance in the human gut. A substrate for the strain, such as raffinose, may be administered at the same time as or separately from the strain.

Described herein are methods and compositions for using microbial agents (probiotics) and agents that promote growth of certain microbes (prebiotics) for management (including prevention and treatment) of musculoskeletal disorders, including osteoporosis, osteopenia, Paget's disease, stunting, osteoarthritis, osteomyelitis, and delayed or non-union fractures.

A food grade double gel system or bigel is disclosed. The bigel comprises an oleogel phase and a hydrogel phase. The Olcogel phase comprises vegetable oil and a gelator, and the hydrogel phase comprises collagen. The bigel further comprises co-encapsulated probiotics and prebiotic soluble dietary fibers. Disclosed are also food products comprising the bigel as well as method for preparing the bigel.

The present invention comprises a method for selecting lactic acid bacterial strains effective for preventing bone loss in humans and strains that have been selected according to the presented method. The selection method is based on the strain's capability of reestablishing an altered microbial community to normal and/or harboring at least one of four specific SNPs.

The present invention comprises a method for selecting lactic acid bacterial strains effective for preventing bone loss in humans and strains that have been selected according to the presented method. The selection method is based on the strain's capability of reestablishing an altered microbial community to normal and/or harboring at least one of four specific SNPs.

A sweetener composition comprising xylose, a sugar alcohol and brown seaweed extract in solid form, preferably powdered or crystalline form. The sugar alcohol is preferably an erythritol and the brown seaweed extract is preferably obtained from Laminaria japonica. The sweetener composition can further comprise one or a combination of additional vitamins, minerals, probiotic cultures, and other plant-based extracts.

Provided herein, inter alia, are compositions of short chain fatty acid (SCFA)-producing microorganisms and methods of making and using the same to inhibit pathogenic bacterial populations in the gastrointestinal tracts of an animal and additionally promote improvement of one or more metrics in an animal, such as increased bodyweight gain, decreased feed conversion ratio (FCR), improved gut barrier integrity, reduced mortality, reduced pathogen infection, and reduced pathogen shedding in feces.

The present invention is directed to compositions comprising a mixture of microbes and the metabolites produced when the microbes are grown together. The invention is further directed to methods for making and using the compositions.