Abstract Researchers have associated the therapeutic potential of probiotics with its ability to modulate gut microbiota, which is considered an “invisible organ” of the human body. The present study investigates the effects of probiotic supplementation on the gut microbiota composition of adults. The authors conducted a systematic review of the literature published in six different databases. The search followed PRISMA guidelines and aimed to identify randomized clinical trials on probiotic supplementation. All relevant publications indexed up to May 28, 2021, were retrieved. Then, the authors defined the inclusion and exclusion criteria. Two independent reviewers performed study screening, data extraction, and quality assessment. A total of 2,404 publications were retrieved, and eight studies met the eligibility criteria. The included randomized clinical trials were published between 2015 to 2020. The worldwide studies included adults aged from 18 to 79 years, most of whom were women (66.5%). Only one of the included studies observed significant effects on fecal microbiota composition in the relative abundance of Bacteroidetes and Firmicutes phyla in comparison with the placebo treatment. Overall, this systematic review could not draw consistent conclusions on the effects of probiotic supplementation on the gut microbiota composition of adults.

RESUMO: Um dos grandes desafios das indústrias de laticínios é destinar de forma correta todo o soro gerado durante a produção de queijo, devido ao seu impacto ambiental, grande volume gerado e potencial tecnológico. A hidrólise enzimática da lactose presente no soro de queijo é uma alternativa biotecnológica. Contudo, um dos fatores limitantes de sua utilização é o custo relativamente alto das enzimas, o que poderia ser minimizado com a imobilização destes biocatalisadores. Baseado nesse contexto, o objetivo do presente trabalho foi avaliar a enzima comercial β-galactosidase de Kluyveromyces lactis , imobilizada em esferas de alginato de cálcio e gelatina, empregando o glutaraldeído e a concanavalina A (ConA) como agentes modificadores, no processo de hidrólise da lactose presente no soro de queijo. Os resultados obtidos demonstraram que o encapsulamento da enzima complexada com ConA em esferas de alginato-gelatina, sem a presença de glutaraldeído no meio de imobilização, aumentou de modo significativo o teor de hidrólise da lactose, obtendo conversão máxima de 72%.

ABSTRACT: One of the greatest challenges for dairy industries is the correct destination of all the whey generated during cheese making, considering its high impact, the large volume created, and its technological potential. Enzymatic hydrolysis of cheese whey lactose is a biotechnological alternative. However, one of the limiting factors of its use is the relatively high cost of the enzymes, which could be lowered with the immobilization of these biocatalysts. Considering this context, the objective of this research was to evaluate the commercial Kluyveromyces lactis β-galactosidase enzyme immobilized in calcium alginate spheres and gelatin, using glutaraldehyde and concanavalin A (ConA) as modifying agents in the hydrolysis of cheese whey lactose process. Results have shown that the enzyme encapsulation complexed with ConA in alginate-gelatin spheres, without glutaraldehyde in the immobilization support, has significantly increased the hydrolysis of lactose rate, achieving a maximum conversion of 72%.