Hydrolysed soy protein and encapsulated probiotics in lab digestion tests
What it found
In lab tests, soy protein hydrolysate powders with encapsulated probiotics lost about 1 log of live bacteria during simulated digestion, and all groups ended with similar amounts of live probiotics.
What they found
Animal and lab studies
Probiotic survival in digestion
After simulated digestion, all groups lost about 1 log of live bacteria, ending with log CFU/mL values from 6.55 to 6.19. Free probiotics had the lowest value, at 6.10 plus or minus 0.10.
Comparing the groups
The researchers found no significant difference in probiotic viability among the experimental groups.
Other findings
Hydrolysis time and solubility
Hydrolysates made at 2.5 to 3 hours were much more soluble than the original soy protein isolate at all pH levels, reaching 85% to 95% solubility.
Degree of hydrolysis
Hydrolysates from 2, 2.5 and 3 hours of hydrolysis had a suitable degree of hydrolysis between 2.5% and 5.0%.
Surface hydrophobicity
The surface hydrophobicity of the hydrolysates ranged from 15 to 20 S0 values.
Microcapsule size
The alginate microcapsules were about 1 mm in size when viewed with a scanning electron microscope.
What the authors conclude
“The findings of this research will provide an understanding of formulation for easily digestible protein and encapsulated probiotics.”
Also in their conclusions
- They say the findings will help with formulating easily digestible protein and encapsulated probiotics.
- They state that probiotics with prebiotics in an encapsulated environment provide a technology for enhancing probiotic viability and for use in suitable products for health and wellness.
How it was done
The authors wanted to find a good way to make soy protein hydrolysate and to protect probiotics so they survive passage through the gut.
They made soy protein isolate from defatted soybean, then used pepsin to make hydrolysates at 2, 2.5 and 3 hours. They encapsulated probiotics with alginate and resistant starch, dried the mixture into a powder, and tested it in a simulated digestion model.
What it can’t tell you
- We summarised it from the abstract only.
- This was a lab test that mimicked digestion, not a study in people, so it cannot show what happens in the human gut.
- The test cannot show whether these powders would keep probiotics alive in real products over time or during storage.
Who paid
- Authors work at
- University of Arkansas, U.S.A; Washington State University, U.S.A
The paper
- Title
- Physicochemical properties of soy protein hydrolysate and its formulation and stability with encapsulated probiotic under in vitro gastrointestinal environment
- Type
- Study
- Evidence
- Animals and lab studies
- Summarised from
- Abstract only
- Cite
- Edwards JS, Hettiarachchy NS, Kumar TKS, Carbonero F, Martin EM, Benamara M (2020). Physicochemical properties of soy protein hydrolysate and its formulation and stability with encapsulated probiotic under in vitro gastrointestinal environment. Journal of food science. doi:10.1111/1750-3841.15399PubMed 32869300DOI
Summary written 26 Sep 2026. Check it against the paper before it changes what you eat. How we summarise papers · Report an error