Designing the Properties of Probiotic Kefir with Increased Whey Protein Content

This research unveiled new insights on the impact of incorporating whey proteins into kefir produced using three different methods. This aims to improve its quality and health benefits, primarily as a result of optimal proliferation of probiotic bacteria. In the initial part of the experiment, sampl...

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Main Authors: Aslı Yiğit Ziolkowski, Paulina Bielska, Dorota Cais-Sokolińska, Gülhan Samur
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2024-09-01
Series:Fermentation
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2311-5637/10/10/495
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author Aslı Yiğit Ziolkowski
Paulina Bielska
Dorota Cais-Sokolińska
Gülhan Samur
author_facet Aslı Yiğit Ziolkowski
Paulina Bielska
Dorota Cais-Sokolińska
Gülhan Samur
author_sort Aslı Yiğit Ziolkowski
collection DOAJ
description This research unveiled new insights on the impact of incorporating whey proteins into kefir produced using three different methods. This aims to improve its quality and health benefits, primarily as a result of optimal proliferation of probiotic bacteria. In the initial part of the experiment, samples were prepared using three different methods (methods 1, 2, and 3) to examine the impact of introducing whey protein on bacterial count, the content of L(+)-lactic acid, lactase activity, and the lactic acid and ethanol levels. The methods differed primarily in the sequence of the inoculation milk with probiotic bacteria stage in the production cycle, as well as incubation time and temperature. No significant differences were found in the number of yeasts and bacteria between samples with and without whey proteins. However, it was revealed that the 5% addition of whey proteins enhanced the number of probiotic bacteria in kefir produced with method 2 (from 4.86 to 5.52 log cfu/mL) and method 3 (from 3.68 to 4.01 log cfu/mL). The second part of the research investigated the impact of whey proteins on firmness, consistency, cohesiveness, viscosity, color, and water activity of kefir. This part focused on testing samples with lower whey protein contents (1 and 3%, <i>w/v</i>). We found that the addition of 1% and 3% whey proteins resulted in decreased firmness, consistency, cohesiveness, and viscosity compared to the control kefir. On the other hand, the addition of 5% whey proteins resulted in increased firmness and consistency compared to the addition of 1% and 3% whey proteins. The addition of whey protein decreased the white index WI of the kefir samples. Overall, our results revealed that incorporating whey protein concentrate (WPC) in the production of probiotic kefir can enhance its health benefits while maintaining its rheological properties and overall quality.
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spelling doaj-art-1eccaeb7bb5b4fb7b79a759ea64e2b312025-08-20T02:11:09ZengMDPI AGFermentation2311-56372024-09-01101049510.3390/fermentation10100495Designing the Properties of Probiotic Kefir with Increased Whey Protein ContentAslı Yiğit Ziolkowski0Paulina Bielska1Dorota Cais-Sokolińska2Gülhan Samur3Nutrition and Dietetics, Süleyman Demirel University, Isparta 32260, TurkeyDepartment of Dairy and Process Engineering, Faculty of Food Science and Nutrition, Poznań University of Life Sciences, ul. Wojska Polskiego 31/33, 60-624 Poznań, PolandDepartment of Dairy and Process Engineering, Faculty of Food Science and Nutrition, Poznań University of Life Sciences, ul. Wojska Polskiego 31/33, 60-624 Poznań, PolandNutrition and Dietetics, Hacettepe University, Ankara 06532, TurkeyThis research unveiled new insights on the impact of incorporating whey proteins into kefir produced using three different methods. This aims to improve its quality and health benefits, primarily as a result of optimal proliferation of probiotic bacteria. In the initial part of the experiment, samples were prepared using three different methods (methods 1, 2, and 3) to examine the impact of introducing whey protein on bacterial count, the content of L(+)-lactic acid, lactase activity, and the lactic acid and ethanol levels. The methods differed primarily in the sequence of the inoculation milk with probiotic bacteria stage in the production cycle, as well as incubation time and temperature. No significant differences were found in the number of yeasts and bacteria between samples with and without whey proteins. However, it was revealed that the 5% addition of whey proteins enhanced the number of probiotic bacteria in kefir produced with method 2 (from 4.86 to 5.52 log cfu/mL) and method 3 (from 3.68 to 4.01 log cfu/mL). The second part of the research investigated the impact of whey proteins on firmness, consistency, cohesiveness, viscosity, color, and water activity of kefir. This part focused on testing samples with lower whey protein contents (1 and 3%, <i>w/v</i>). We found that the addition of 1% and 3% whey proteins resulted in decreased firmness, consistency, cohesiveness, and viscosity compared to the control kefir. On the other hand, the addition of 5% whey proteins resulted in increased firmness and consistency compared to the addition of 1% and 3% whey proteins. The addition of whey protein decreased the white index WI of the kefir samples. Overall, our results revealed that incorporating whey protein concentrate (WPC) in the production of probiotic kefir can enhance its health benefits while maintaining its rheological properties and overall quality.https://www.mdpi.com/2311-5637/10/10/495probiotic kefirwhey protein concentratemicrobial propertiesrheological propertieswater activity
spellingShingle Aslı Yiğit Ziolkowski
Paulina Bielska
Dorota Cais-Sokolińska
Gülhan Samur
Designing the Properties of Probiotic Kefir with Increased Whey Protein Content
Fermentation
probiotic kefir
whey protein concentrate
microbial properties
rheological properties
water activity
title Designing the Properties of Probiotic Kefir with Increased Whey Protein Content
title_full Designing the Properties of Probiotic Kefir with Increased Whey Protein Content
title_fullStr Designing the Properties of Probiotic Kefir with Increased Whey Protein Content
title_full_unstemmed Designing the Properties of Probiotic Kefir with Increased Whey Protein Content
title_short Designing the Properties of Probiotic Kefir with Increased Whey Protein Content
title_sort designing the properties of probiotic kefir with increased whey protein content
topic probiotic kefir
whey protein concentrate
microbial properties
rheological properties
water activity
url https://www.mdpi.com/2311-5637/10/10/495
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AT gulhansamur designingthepropertiesofprobiotickefirwithincreasedwheyproteincontent