Biological Functions of Exopolysaccharides from Lactic Acid Bacteria and Their Potential Benefits for Humans and Farmed Animals
María Laura Werning,
Annel M. Hernández-Alcántara,
María Julia Ruiz,
Lorena Paola Soto,
María Teresa Dueñas,
Paloma López,
Laureano Sebastián Frizzo
Affiliations
María Laura Werning
Laboratory of Food Analysis “Rodolfo Oscar DALLA SANTINA”, Institute of Veterinary Science (ICiVet Litoral), National University of the Litoral-National, Council of Scientific and Technical Research (UNL/CONICET), Esperanza 3080, SF, Argentina
Annel M. Hernández-Alcántara
Department of Microorganisms and Plant Biotechnology, Margarita Salas Center for Biological Research (CIB)-Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), 28040 Madrid, Spain
María Julia Ruiz
Laboratory of Food Analysis “Rodolfo Oscar DALLA SANTINA”, Institute of Veterinary Science (ICiVet Litoral), National University of the Litoral-National, Council of Scientific and Technical Research (UNL/CONICET), Esperanza 3080, SF, Argentina
Lorena Paola Soto
Laboratory of Food Analysis “Rodolfo Oscar DALLA SANTINA”, Institute of Veterinary Science (ICiVet Litoral), National University of the Litoral-National, Council of Scientific and Technical Research (UNL/CONICET), Esperanza 3080, SF, Argentina
María Teresa Dueñas
Department of Applied Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), 20018 San Sebastián, Spain
Paloma López
Department of Microorganisms and Plant Biotechnology, Margarita Salas Center for Biological Research (CIB)-Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), 28040 Madrid, Spain
Laureano Sebastián Frizzo
Laboratory of Food Analysis “Rodolfo Oscar DALLA SANTINA”, Institute of Veterinary Science (ICiVet Litoral), National University of the Litoral-National, Council of Scientific and Technical Research (UNL/CONICET), Esperanza 3080, SF, Argentina
Lactic acid bacteria (LAB) synthesize exopolysaccharides (EPS), which are structurally diverse biopolymers with a broad range of technological properties and bioactivities. There is scientific evidence that these polymers have health-promoting properties. Most commercialized probiotic microorganisms for consumption by humans and farmed animals are LAB and some of them are EPS-producers indicating that some of their beneficial properties could be due to these polymers. Probiotic LAB are currently used to improve human health and for the prevention and treatment of specific pathologic conditions. They are also used in food-producing animal husbandry, mainly due to their abilities to promote growth and inhibit pathogens via different mechanisms, among which the production of EPS could be involved. Thus, the aim of this review is to discuss the current knowledge of the characteristics, usage and biological role of EPS from LAB, as well as their postbiotic action in humans and animals, and to predict the future contribution that they could have on the diet of food animals to improve productivity, animal health status and impact on public health.
