Alternative Substrates for the Development of Fermented Beverages Analogous to Kombucha: An Integrative Review.

Kombucha is a fermented beverage that originated in China and is spread worldwide today. The infusion of Camellia sinensis leaves is mandatory as the substrate to produce kombucha but alternative plant infusions are expected to increase the opportunities to develop new fermented food products analogous to kombucha, with high technological potential and functional properties. This review gathers information regarding promising alternative substrates to produce kombucha-analogous beverages, focusing on plants available in the Amazonia biome. The data from the literature showed a wide range of alternative substrates in increasing expansion, with 37 new substrates being highlighted, of which ~29% are available in the Amazon region. Regarding the technological production of kombucha-analogous beverages, the following were the most frequent conditions: sucrose was the most used carbon/energy source; the infusions were mostly prepared at 90-100 °C, which allowed increased contents of phenolic compounds in the product; and 14 day-fermentation at 25-28 °C was typical. Furthermore, herbs with promising bioactive compound compositions and high antioxidant and antimicrobial properties are usually preferred. This review also brings up gaps in the literature, such as the lack of consistent information about chemical composition, sensory aspects, biological properties, and market strategies for fermented beverages analogous to kombucha produced with alternative substrates. Therefore, investigations aiming to overcome these gaps may stimulate the upscale of these beverages in reaching wide access to contribute to the modern consumers' quality of life.

A review of the production, quality, and safety of traditionally fermented cereal-based alcoholic beverages in Ethiopia.

In Ethiopia, a diverse array of cereal-based alcoholic beverages is being prepared and consumed. These traditional fermented drinks are distinct to specific regions and are prepared by locals using locally available raw materials according to cultural traditions. Notable among these are Tella, Areki, Keribo, Borde, and Shamita, renowned for their nutritional benefits and their role in ensuring food security. This paper explores existing literature regarding the production, quality, and safety of traditional cereal-based alcoholic beverages in Ethiopia. Despite the widespread consumption of these beverages, they have yet to be commercialized, mainly due to their perceived low quality. The uncommercialized processes and products demand more attention, particularly in light of the country's inflationary pressures. Additionally, these traditional fermented beverages significantly enhance health due to the presence of bioactive compounds and their nutritional value. Standardizing and modernizing production methods by integrating scientific knowledge, such as optimizing fermentation practices, is essential to fully capitalize on these traditional beverages. Equipping local producers with this knowledge can facilitate the transition to larger scale production. Furthermore, continued research is essential to maintaining overall quality and safety standards. Therefore, it is crucial to concentrate on enhancing the nutritional value and quality of traditional cereal-based beverages in the future. By illuminating these aspects, this review aims to enhance understanding of the traditional Ethiopian alcoholic beverage industry and its potential for elevating quality and safety standards. Moreover, the review explores these beverages' cultural significance, consumption patterns, and associated health risks.

Health-promoting peptides in fermented beverages.

Since ancient times, the consumption of fermented low-alcoholic beverages has enjoyed widespread popularity in various countries, because of their distinct flavors and health benefits. Several studies have demonstrated that light to moderate alcohol consumption is associated with beneficial effects on human health, mainly in cardiovascular disease prevention. Fermented beverages have different non-ethanol components that confer beneficial health effects. These bioactive compounds are mainly peptides that have often been overlooked or poorly explored in numerous fermented beverages. The aim of this review is to provide knowledge and generate interest in the biological activities of peptides that are present and/or released during the fermentation process of widely consumed traditional fermented beverages. Additionally, a brief description of the microorganisms involved in these beverages is provided. Furthermore, this review also explores topics related to the detection, isolation, and identification of peptides, addressing the structure-activity relationships of both antioxidant and angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitory (ACE-I) activities.

Binary probiotic fermentation promotes signal (cyclic AMP) exchange to increases the number of viable probiotics, anthocyanins and polyphenol content, and the odor scores of wolfberry fermented beverages.

The effects and underlying molecular mechanisms of binary probiotics (Lactiplantibacillus plantarum subsp. plantarum CGMCC 1.5953 and Lacticaseibacillus casei CGMCC 1.5956) on the quality of wolfberry fermented beverages (WFB) were investigated. The results indicated that binary probiotics increased the number of probiotics, anthocyanin (89.92 ± 1.64 mg/L), polyphenol content (283.04 ± 3.81 µg/mL), and odor score (24.19) in WFB. Metabolomics found that they could enhance signal exchange (cyclic AMP) between binary probiotics and improve the utilization of citrulline, d-proline, d-glucose, and d-galactose through galactose metabolism and amino acid biosynthesis pathway to promote probiotics growth. Furthermore, HS-SPME-GC-MS and GS-IMS revealed that the improvement in flavor was mainly due to an increase in the content of the aromatic flavor substances 3-heptanol, glutaraldehyde, and 2-heptanone, and a decrease in the content of the off-flavor substances methyl isobutyl ketone-D and 2-undecanone. This is strategically important for the development of WFB with high probiotic content and unique flavor.

Volatilome, Microbial, and Sensory Profiles of Coffee Leaf and Coffee Leaf-Toasted Maté Kombuchas.

Kombucha is a fermented beverage traditionally made from the leaves of Camelia sinensis. The market has drastically expanded recently, and the beverage has become more elaborated with new, healthy food materials and flavors. Pruning and harvesting during coffee production may generate tons of coffee leaves that are discarded although they contain substantial amounts of bioactive compounds, including those found in maté tea and coffee seeds. This study characterized the changes in volatilome, microbial, and sensory profiles of pure and blended arabica coffee leaf tea kombuchas between 3-9 days of fermentation. Acceptance was also evaluated by consumers from Rio de Janeiro (n = 103). Kombuchas (K) were prepared using black tea kombucha starter (BTKS) (10%), sucrose (10%), a symbiotic culture of Bacteria and Yeasts (SCOBY) (2.5%), and a pure coffee leaf infusion (CL) or a 50:50 blend with toasted maté infusion (CL-TM) at 2.5%. The RATA test was chosen for sensory profile characterization. One hundred volatile organic compounds were identified when all infusions and kombucha samples were considered. The potential impact compounds identified in CL K and CL-TM K were: methyl salicylate, benzaldehyde, hexanal, nonanal, pentadecanal, phenylethyl-alcohol, cedrol, 3,5-octadien-2-one, ß-damascenone, α-ionone, ß-ionone, acetic acid, caproic acid, octanoic acid, nonanoic acid, decanoic acid, isovaleric acid, linalool, (S)-dihydroactinidiolide, isoamyl alcohol, ethyl hexanoate, and geranyl acetone. Aroma and flavor descriptors with higher intensities in CL K included fruity, peach, sweet, and herbal, while CL-TM K included additional toasted mate notes. The highest mean acceptance score was given to CL-TM K and CL K on day 3 (6.6 and 6.4, respectively, on a nine-point scale). Arabica coffee leaf can be a co-product with similar fingerprinting to maté and black tea, which can be explored for the elaboration of potentially healthy fermented beverages in food industries.

Differential consumption of malic acid and fructose in apple musts by Pichia kudriavzevii strains.

AIMS: To assess the capability of Pichia kudriavzevii strains isolated from wine, cider, and natural environments in North Patagonia to produce ciders with reduced malic acid levels. METHODS AND RESULTS: Fermentation kinetics and malic acid consumption were assessed in synthetic media and in regional acidic apple musts. All P. kudriavzevii strains degraded malic acid and grew in synthetic media with malic acid as the sole carbon source. Among these strains, those isolated from cider exhibited higher fermentative capacity, mainly due to increased fructose utilization; however, a low capacity to consume sucrose present in the must was also observed for all strains. The NPCC1651 cider strain stood out for its malic acid consumption ability in high-malic acid Granny Smith apple must. Additionally, this strain produced high levels of glycerol as well as acceptable levels of acetic acid. On the other hand, Saccharomyces cerevisiae ÑIF8 reference strain isolated from Patagonian wine completely consumed reducing sugars and sucrose and showed an important capacity for malic acid consumption in apple must fermentations. CONCLUSIONS: Pichia kudriavzevii NPCC1651 strain isolated from cider evidenced interesting features for the consumption of malic acid and fructose in ciders.

Ginger beer derived from back-slopping: Volatile compounds, microbial communities on activation and fermentation, metabolites and sensory characteristics.

Physicochemical parameters, microbial diversity using sequencing and amplicon, and metabolite concentrations from Ginger Bug and Ginger Beer were characterized. Furthermore, the sensory aspects of the beverage were determined. The longer ginger bug activation time (96 h) resulted in higher production of organic acids and alcohols, increased phenolic and volatile compounds concentration, greater microbial diversity, and increased lactic acid bacteria and yeasts. In the same way, the longer fermentation time (14 days) of ginger beer resulted in higher ethanol content, volatile compounds, and phenolic compounds, in addition to better sensory characteristics. Our results showed that ginger beer produced with ginger bug and fermented for 14 days showed better volatile and phenolic compound profiles, physicochemical parameters, microbial diversity, and sensory characteristics.

Evaluation of the Efficacy of Kombucha-Based Drink Enriched with Inulin and Vitamins for the Management of Constipation-Predominant Irritable Bowel Syndrome in Females: A Randomized Pilot Study.

Background: Constipation-predominant irritable bowel syndrome (IBS-C) mainly affects females, and dietary interventions for symptom relief often yield poor results because of low patient adherence. The development of functional food products enriched with dietary fibers may increase patients' adherence to a healthy diet and relieve IBS-С symptoms. Objective: This proof-of-concept, open-label, randomized controlled pilot study is aimed to evaluate the efficacy of kombucha enriched with inulin and vitamins in females with IBS-C. Methods: Forty females with IBS-C were randomly assigned to receive either 220 mL of kombucha enriched with inulin (2.53 g/220 mL) and vitamins (B1 - 0.59 mg, B2 - 0.55 mg, B3 - 5.9 mg, B6 - 0.7 mg, and folic acid - 81.4 µg/220 mL) or water for 10 d. Stool frequency, Bristol stool scale score (BSSS), and abdominal symptoms were evaluated using a 5-point Likert scale on days 5, 9 and 14 of the study. The palatability of the drink was assessed using a visual analog scale. Results: After 10 d, the kombucha group showed a significant increase in stool frequency (0.60 ± 0.31-0.85 ± 0.19 times/d; P = 0.004) compared with the control (0.63 ± 0.33 compared with 0.72 ± 0.28; P = 0.6). The mean values of the BSSS increased in the kombucha group (3.0 ± 1.2-4.4 ± 1.0; P = 0.001), whereas they remained unchanged in the control (2.9 ± 1.2 compared with 3.4 ± 1.2; P = 0.6). The kombucha group also experienced a significant decrease in the feeling of incomplete bowel emptying (1.88 ± 0.78 compared with 1.41 ± 0.56 points; P = 0.015), which was not observed in the control group. Conclusions: Short-term consumption of kombucha enriched with inulin and vitamins was associated with an increase in stool frequency, an improvement in the BSSS, and a reduction in the feeling of incomplete bowel emptying in females with IBS-C. Further large-scale clinical trials investigating the efficacy of kombucha enriched with inulin and vitamins in patients with IBS-C are warranted to prove the observed effects. Trial registration number: This trial was registered at clinicaltrials.gov as NCT05164861 (==https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT05164861?term=NCT05164861&rank=1; registered on 18 December, 2021).

Characterization of the Bacterial Composition of 47 Fermented Foods in Sweden.

Fermentation has long been utilized to preserve and enhance the flavor and nutritional value of foods. Recently, fermented foods have gained popularity, reaching new consumer groups due to perceived health benefits. However, the microbial composition of many fermented foods re-mains unknown. Here, we characterized the bacterial composition, diversity, and richness of 47 fermented foods available in Sweden, including kombucha, water kefir, milk kefir, yogurt, plant-based yogurt alternatives, kimchi, sauerkraut, and fermented vegetables. Via 16S rRNA gene sequencing, we identified 2497 bacteria (amplicon sequence variants). The bacterial composition was strongly associated with the type of fermented food, and lactic acid bacteria and/or acetic acid bacteria dominated most samples. However, each fermented food had a unique composition, with kombucha and water kefir having the highest diversity across and within samples. Few bacteria were abundant in multiple foods and food groups. These were Streptococcus thermophilus in yogurts and plant-based yoghurts; Lactococcus lactis in milk kefirs and one water kefir; and Lactiplantibacillus plantarum in kimchi, sauerkraut, and fermented cucumber. The broad range of fermented foods included in this study and their diverse bacterial communities warrant further investigation into the implications of microbial compositions for product traits and potential impact on human health.

Potential neuroprotective effects of fermented foods and beverages in old age: a systematic review.

Purpose: Numerous articles have recently studied the involvement of the gut microbiota in neurological diseases. Aging is associated with changes in the microbiome, which implies a reduction in microbial biodiversity among other changes. Considering that the consumption of a fermented-food diet improves intestinal permeability and barrier function, it seems of interest to study its participation in the prevention of neurodegenerative diseases. This article reviews existing studies to establish whether the consumption of fermented foods and fermented beverages prevents or ameliorates neurodegenerative decline in old age. Methods: The protocol used was performed according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. Details of the protocol for this systematic review are registered on PROSPERO (CRD42021250921). Results: Out of 465 articles identified in the Pubmed, Scopus, and Cochrane Library databases, a total of 29 that examined the relationship of the consumption of fermented products with cognitive impairment in old people were selected (22 cohort, 4 case-control, and 3 cross-sectional studies). The results suggest that low-to-moderate alcohol consumption and daily intake of coffee, soy products, and fermented-food diets in general are associated with a lower risk of dementia and Alzheimer's disease. Conclusion: Daily consumption of fermented foods and beverages, either alone or as part of a diet, has neuroprotective effects and slows cognitive decline in old people. Systematic review registration: https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?RecordID=250921, identifier: CRD42021250921.

Volatile, Microbial, and Sensory Profiles and Consumer Acceptance of Coffee Cascara Kombuchas.

Given the substantial world coffee production, tons of coffee fruit cascara rich in bioactive compounds are discarded annually. Using this by-product to produce potentially healthy and acceptable foods is a sustainable practice that aggregates value to coffee production and may help improve people's lives. This study aimed to elaborate kombuchas from coffee cascara tea, evaluate their microbial profile, and monitor the changes in the volatile profile during fermentation, together with sensory attributes and acceptance by consumers from Rio de Janeiro (n = 113). Arabica coffee cascaras from Brazil and Nicaragua were used to make infusions, to which black tea kombucha, a Symbiotic Culture of Bacteria and Yeasts (SCOBY), and sucrose were added. Fermentation of plain black tea kombucha was also monitored for comparison. The volatile profile was analyzed after 0, 3, 6, and 9 days of fermentation via headspace solid phase microextraction GC-MS. A total of 81 compounds were identified considering all beverages, 59 in coffee cascara kombuchas and 59 in the black tea kombucha, with 37 common compounds for both. An increase mainly in acids and esters occurred during fermentation. Despite the similarity to black tea kombucha, some aldehydes, esters, alcohols, and ketones in coffee cascara kombucha were not identified in black tea kombucha. Potential impact compounds in CC were linalool, decanal, nonanal, octanal, dodecanal, ethanol, 2-ethylhexanol, ethyl acetate, ethyl butyrate, ethyl acetate, ß-damascenone, γ-nonalactone, linalool oxide, phenylethyl alcohol, geranyl acetone, phenylacetaldehyde, isoamyl alcohol, acetic acid, octanoic acid, isovaleric acid, ethyl isobutyrate, ethyl hexanoate, and limonene. The mean acceptance scores for cascara kombuchas varied between 5.7 ± 0.53 and 7.4 ± 0.53 on a nine-point hedonic scale, with coffee cascara from three-day Nicaragua kombucha showing the highest score, associated with sweetness and berry, honey, woody, and herbal aromas and flavors. The present results indicate that coffee cascara is a promising by-product for elaboration of fermented beverages, exhibiting exotic and singular fingerprinting that can be explored for applications in the food industry.

Innovative beverage creation through symbiotic microbial communities inspired by traditional fermented beverages: current status, challenges and future directions.

Fermented beverages (FBs) are facing challenges in functional performance and flavor complexity, necessitating the development of new multi-functional options. Traditional fermented beverages (TFBs), both alcoholic and nonalcoholic, have gained increased attention for their health-promoting effects during the COVID-19 pandemic. This review summarized the primary commercially available probiotics of FBs, along with the limitations of single and mixed probiotic FBs. It also examined the recent research progress on TFBs, emphasizing the typical microbial communities (MC) of TFBs, and TFBs made from crops (grains, vegetables, fruits, etc.) worldwide and their associated functions and health benefits. Furthermore, the construction, technical bottlenecks of the synthetic MC involved in developing innovative FBs were presented, and the promising perspective of FBs was described. Drawing inspiration from the MC of TFBs, developing of stable and multifunctional FBs using synthetic MC holds great promise for beverage industry. However, synthetic MC suffers from structural instability and poorly acknowledged interaction mechanisms, resulting in disappointing results in FBs. Future researches should prioritize creating synthetic MC fermentation that closely resemble natural fermentation, tailored to meet the needs of different consumers. Creating personalized FBs with high-tech intelligence is vital in attracting potential consumers and developing novel beverages for the future.

Millennial drinks: acidity, fluoride content, and enamel softening.

This in vitro study aimed to evaluate the acidity and fluoride content of beverages commonly consumed by millennials and the enamel-softening effect of these drinks on tooth enamel. The study included 13 beverages in 4 categories: energy (sports) drink, flavored sparkling water, kombucha, and other (an unsweetened iced tea, a vegetable-fruit juice blend, and a soft drink). The acidity was measured with a pH/ion meter, and the fluoride concentration was measured with a combined fluoride electrode coupled to the meter (n = 10 measurements per beverage). The Vickers hardness number of extracted molars was measured before and after a 30-minute immersion in 4 representative beverages via 2 immersion protocols (n = 10 per beverage per protocol): (1) immersion in the beverage only and (2) immersion alternating between the beverage and artificial saliva every other minute. The pH and fluoride concentrations of the beverages ranged from 2.652 to 4.242 and from 0.0033 to 0.6045 ppm, respectively. One-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) revealed that all differences between beverages in pH values were statistically significant, as were the majority of differences in fluoride concentrations (P < 0.001). The beverages and the 2 immersion methods significantly affected enamel softening (2-way ANOVA, P = 0.0001 to 0.033). The representative energy drink (pH 2.990; 0.0102 ppm fluoride) caused the greatest enamel softening followed by the representative kombucha (pH 2.820; 0.2036 ppm fluoride). The representative flavored sparkling water (pH 4.066; 0.0098 ppm fluoride) caused significantly less enamel softening than the energy drink and kombucha. A root beer (pH 4.185; 0.6045 ppm fluoride) had the least enamel softening effect. All tested beverages were acidic and had a pH below 4.5; only some contained fluoride. Flavored sparkling water, likely due to its higher pH, caused less enamel softening than the tested energy drink and kombucha. The fluoride content of kombucha and root beer lower their enamel-softening effects. It is imperative that consumers be aware of the erosive potential of beverages they consume.

Effect of blended fermented beverages from blood fruit and aonla with two types of organic sweetener.

Fermented beverages from blood fruit (Haematocarpus validus Bakh.f.exForman) and aonla (Emblica officinalis Gaertn.) were prepared to find out the interactive effect between blending of different proportion of blood fruit and aonla along with two types of organic sugar (palm and cane sugar) to add the diversity to the drinks, preserve the nutrition, antioxidative and functional properties of the fruits and reduced the post harvest losses. The beverages have the following proximate compositions viz. a significantly highest TSS (8.36 °Brix), total sugar (2.29%), reducing sugar (1.92%), alcohol (9.02%) were recorded treatment combinations T3S1 (Blood fruit 90% + aonla 10% +palm sugar 20%). T2 (100% aonla) recorded highest ß-carotene (172.95 IU), titratable acidity (0.61%) and ascorbic acid (61.95 mg/100ml) while highest anthocyanin (12.98 mg/100 ml) were recorded in T1 (100% blood fruit). Similarly, the sensory evaluation shows that most of treatments (T1S1, T3S1, T3S2, and T4S2) were accepted by the panellists. Considering the findings of investigation and highest net monitory returns (5.84 B: C ratio) obtained, it can be conclude that blending of blood fruit and aonla at different proportion with different types of sugar has a good prospect for commercialization.

Effect of Gastrointestinal Digestion on the Bioaccessibility of Phenolic Compounds and Antioxidant Activity of Fermented Aloe vera Juices.

Plant-based beverages are enriched by the fermentation process. However, their biocompounds are transformed during gastrointestinal digestion, improving their bioaccessibility, which is of primary importance when considering the associated health benefits. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of in vitro gastrointestinal digestion on phenolic compound bioaccessibility and antioxidant activity of novel Aloe vera juices fermented by probiotic Enterococcus faecium and Lactococcus lactis. Aloe vera juices were digested using the standardized static INFOGEST protocol. During digestion, phenolic compounds and antioxidant activity (DPPH, ABTS, and FRAP) were accessed. The digestion process was seen to significantly increase the total phenolic content of the fermented Aloe vera juices. The fermentation of Aloe vera increased the bioaccessibility of juice biocompounds, particularly for kaempferol, ellagic acid, resveratrol, hesperidin, ferulic acid, and aloin. The phenolics released during digestion were able to reduce the oxidative radicals assessed by ABTS and FRAP tests, increasing the antioxidant action in the intestine, where they are absorbed. The fermentation of Aloe vera by probiotics is an excellent process to increase the bioavailability of beverages, resulting in natural added-value functional products.

Effect of Hop Varieties and Forms in the Hopping Process on Non-Alcoholic Beer Quality.

The aim of this study was to determine how the hopping technique affects the quality of non-alcoholic beer (NAB). A series of NABs were brewed and tested for basic physicochemical characteristics, profiles of selected volatile compounds, and microbial contamination. The brewing process yielded 13 experimental groups of beers, all of which had an ethanol content of <0.5%v/v. Among the batches brewed with 'Marynka' hops, the pellet form was found to provide the highest concentrations of hop-derived volatile compounds, whereas in the 'Magnum' groups, the extracts and whole hops proved superior. Humulene and caryophyllene were the primary volatiles in terms of quantity. All the brews were contamination-free­no microbes other than yeast cells were detected. Their microbiological purity was also supported by an assay of beer-defect indicators (volatile compounds), which only showed low levels of acetaldehyde, 1-propanol, 2-methylbutanol, and 3-methylbutanol. The hopping technique deployed was found not to affect the physicochemical parameters of NABs, but did have a significant impact on their volatile compound profile.

Aloe Vera-Fermented Beverage Ameliorates Obesity and Gut Dysbiosis in High-Fat-Diet Mice.

Aloe vera has been proven to have various medicinal properties, including anti-inflammatory and anti-obesity functions. However, the effects of Aloe vera-fermented beverages (AFB) on obesity and its complications are still not clear. In this study, HepG2 cells in high-fat environment and high-fat diet (HFD) mice were used to investigate the potential obesity-preventing function of AFB. We found that AFB intervention decreased the amount of lipid droplets of HepG2 cells, suppressed the body weight gain and adipose accumulation, and reduced the serum contents of total cholesterol (TC), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), and interleukin 10 (IL-10) of HFD-mice. In addition, it also changed the composition of the gut microbiota. The ratio of Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes was decreased, while the relative abundance of Muribaculaceae, Alistipes and Rikenellaceae_RC9_gut_group was increased after the administration of AFB compared with HFD-mice. These results demonstrated that AFB can prevent diet-induced obesity (DIO) and provides a new option to modulate obesity-related gut dysbiosis.

Microbial Communities of Artisanal Fermented Milk Products from Russia.

Fermented milk products (FMPs) have numerous health properties, making them an important part of our nutrient budget. Based on traditions, history and geography, there are different preferences and recipes for FMP preparation in distinct regions of the world and Russia in particular. A number of dairy products, both widely occurring and region-specific, were sampled in the households and local markets of the Caucasus republics, Buryatia, Altai, and the Far East and European regions of Russia. The examined FMPs were produced from cow, camel, mare's or mixed milk, in the traditional way, without adding commercial starter cultures. Lactate and acetate were the major volatile fatty acids (VFA) of the studied FMPs, while succinate, formate, propionate and n-butyrate were present in lower concentrations. Bacterial communities analyzed by 16S rRNA gene V4 fragment amplicon sequencing showed that Firmicutes (Lactococcus, Lactobacillus, Streptococcus, Lentilactobacillus and Leuconostoc) was the predominant phylum in all analyzed FMPs, followed by Proteobacteria (Acetobacter, Klebsiella, Pseudomonas and Citrobacter). Lactobacillus (mainly in beverages) or Lactococcus (mainly in creamy and solid products) were the most abundant community-forming genera in FMPs where raw milk was used and fermentation took place at (or below) room temperature. In turn, representatives of Streptococcus genus dominated the FMPs made from melted or pasteurized milk and fermented at elevated temperatures (such as ryazhenka, cottage cheese and matsoni-like products). It was revealed that the microbial diversity of koumiss, shubat, ryazhenka, matsoni-like products, chegen, sour cream and bryndza varied slightly within each type and correlated well with the same products from other regions and countries. On the other hand, the microbiomes of kefir, prostokvasha, ayran, cottage cheese and suluguni-like cheese were more variable and were shaped by the influence of particular factors linked with regional differences and traditions expressed in specificities in the production process. The microbial diversity of aarts, khurunga, khuruud, tan, ayran and suluguni-like cheese was studied here, to our knowledge, for the first time. The results of this study emphasize the overall similarity of the microbial communities of various FMPs on the one hand, and specificities of regional products on the other. The latter are of particular value in the age of globalization when people have begun searching for new and unusual products and properties. Speaking more specifically, these novel products, with their characteristic communities, might be used for the development of novel microbial associations (i.e., starters) to produce novel products with improved or unique properties.

The Effects of Kefir and Kefir Components on Immune and Metabolic Physiology in Pre-Clinical Studies: A Narrative Review.

Kefir, a fermented beverage made from kefir grains, has gained immense popularity around the world due to its potential health-promoting properties. Kefir beverages are both marketed commercially and brewed privately by individuals. Both milk and sugar solutions can be used as substrates with various additives included based on consumer preference. Fermentation occurs via microorganisms including lactic acid bacteria, acetic acid bacteria, and yeasts, which are naturally present in kefir grains. Health-promoting effects of kefir are thought to occur through immune, gastrointestinal, and metabolic regulation. Both clinical trials and mechanistic studies in cell culture and animal models have explored these effects. Studies in vitro and in animals have shown the ability of kefir and kefir components to antagonize pathogens, reduce proinflammatory cytokine production, contribute to cytotoxicity of tumor cell lines and reduce tumor burden, and improve serum glycemic and lipid profiles. However, some data from clinical trials are conflicting, and the precise mechanisms by which kefir promotes well-being are not completely defined. This review summarizes the current body of evidence in both cell culture and animal models that provide insight into the mechanisms by which kefir beverages may protect consumers from enteric infections and improve immune and metabolic health. We believe that readers will gain knowledge helpful for both developing more targeted mechanistic studies and selecting informative outcomes when designing clinical studies.