The titratable acidity values expressed in percentage of lactic
acid increased significantly (P < 0.05) throughout the storage
period; the probiotic and symbiotic formulations showed higher
values than the control formulation (Fig. 2).
Storage time influenced decreasing pH and increasing acidity in
the probiotic and symbiotic formulations. This influence was expected
because L. paracasei is known to be an optional heterofermentative
lactobacillus that converts lactose into lactic acid,
acetic acid, and carbon dioxide, which are responsible for medium
acidification. Other factors such as storage temperature (5 C) and
addition of sucrose, which can be degraded in fructose and glucose,
and glucose which can be converted into lactic acid, may have also
influenced the metabolism in this strain (Madureira et al., 2008).