WATER ACTIVITY – THE KEY TO HIGH-QUALITY PROBIOTIC MANUFACTURING
Probiotics play a vital role in supporting gut health, boosting the immune system, and balancing the microbiome in the body. However, to ensure the beneficial bacteria in probiotics maintain their effectiveness, they need to be protected from adverse factors during production, storage, and use. One of the critical elements that determine this stability is water activity (Aw).
What is Water Activity?
Water activity (Aw) is a measure of the free water in a product – water that is not chemically bound and can be utilized by microorganisms for growth. This is entirely different from moisture content, which includes both free and bound water.
For Example: A frozen piece of meat has high moisture content, but most of the water is frozen and unavailable, resulting in nearly zero water activity. Conversely, when thawed, the free water increases, raising the water activity and allowing microorganisms to grow rapidly, leading to spoilage.
Why is Water Activity Important for Probiotics?
To ensure the longevity of probiotics in products, water activity must be maintained at the lowest possible levels. Low Aw prevents the growth of harmful microorganisms like bacteria, yeast, and molds. At the same time, it allows beneficial bacteria to remain in a "dormant" state, stable and ready to activate when introduced into the body.
Water Activity Thresholds for Microorganisms:
- Aw < 0.90: Most pathogenic bacteria cannot grow.
- Aw < 0.70: Mold growth is halted.
- Aw < 0.60: No microorganisms can grow.
By maintaining low Aw, probiotics are protected from adverse conditions like humidity, high temperatures, and oxidation, ensuring their viability throughout the storage period.
How to Control Water Activity?
1. Applications in Production
Controlling water activity starts from selecting raw materials to production and storage processes:
- High-quality raw materials and excipients: Using carriers and excipients like polysaccharides and proteins helps maintain low Aw levels.
- Innovative technology: Techniques like fluidized bed spray drying reduce water activity, producing dry, stable probiotic powders that are easy to store.
- Controlled production environment: Temperature, humidity, and other production conditions are carefully monitored to keep Aw at optimal levels.
2. Secure Packaging
Moisture-resistant packaging plays a vital role in maintaining low water activity throughout the product's shelf life. High-barrier packaging that limits moisture penetration slows down water absorption from the environment, thus protecting probiotics effectively.
Benefits of Controlling Water Activity in Probiotics
- Increased Probiotic Survival: Low Aw creates a stable environment, allowing beneficial bacteria to survive and remain effective when consumed.
- Extended Shelf Life: Products maintain quality over time without being affected by environmental conditions.
- Enhanced Safety: Controlling Aw minimizes the growth of harmful microorganisms, ensuring user safety.
- Optimal Effectiveness: Probiotics are protected during storage and activated at the right time, delivering maximum health benefits.
Conclusion
Water activity is a critical factor in modern probiotic production. By controlling Aw scientifically, manufacturers can not only protect beneficial bacteria but also ensure the product's quality and safety for consumers. It is the cornerstone of creating stable, effective, and sustainable probiotics for use in varying environments.
Lactomin Inc.
References:
(2) https://www.metergroup.com/food/articles/microbial-growth/
(3) https://www.slideshare.net/METERGroup/water-activity-102-microbial-growth
(4) The Production and Delivery of Probiotics: A Review of a Practical Approach Kurt Fenster 1 , Barbara Freeburg 1 , Chris Hollard 1 , Connie Wong 1 , Rune Rønhave Laursen 2 and Arthur C. Ouwehand 3,
Water Activity in Probiotics – The Secret Behind Lactomin Plus
Lactomin Plus probiotics is a prime example of successful water activity control technology. With Aw maintained at the lowest possible level, the product not only preserves the quantity and quality of probiotics but also offers maximum convenience for users:
- Easy to use: Direct-to-mouth powder, no need to mix with water.
- Flavor: Delicious biscuit-like taste
- Safe for the whole family: Suitable for children, adults, and people with sensitive digestive systems.
- Outstanding effectiveness: Delivers >=100 million CFU into the intestine sustainably.
Probiotic content decreases as the water activity index (Aw) increases. Lactomin Plus is produced using a specific technological process to ensure the water activity (Aw) is ≤ 0.25. Lactomin Plus is the perfect choice for maintaining your digestive health and that of your family.