However, when the data of lentil-supplemented yoghurts were combined with those of milk, in the regression analyses the R2 values dropped to 0.60 (streptococci) and 0.13 (lactobacilli). Therefore, in a given medium, the buffering capacity is a strong regulator of growth, but not when different media are compared. These data show that the nutrients brought by the lentil flour affect growth of the yoghurt cultures differently than did skim milk powder. Interestingly, the addition of lentil flour accelerated the rate of acidification, but did not increase the CFU values in the fermented products (Table 2) as compared to skin milk powder supplementation. The nature of the stimulatory factors in lentil flour remains unknown. It is hypothesized that complex carbohydrates (e.g., resistant starch, sucrose, raffinose, stachyose, verbascose and oligosaccharides) made this ingredient a very good source of potential prebiotic components (Wang & Daun, 2004). Amino acids, vitamins and minerals have also been shown to stimulate the growth of starter cultures in milk