Lactobacillus acidophilus was encapsulated in alginate-inulin-xanthan gum and its ability to
grow in carrot juice and survive 8 weeks of storage at 4 C and subsequent exposure to artificial
gastrointestinal conditions were assessed. Encapsulation significantly enhanced cell
viability after fermentation and storage (6 · 1012 and 4 · 1010 cells/ml versus 4 · 1010 and
2 · 108 for free cells, respectively). Encapsulation protected L. acidophilus from exposure to
simulated gastric conditions; minor alterations in viability and the protein profile occurred
after incubation in pancreatic juice. For free cells, viability decreased significantly and the
expression of numerous proteins was lost after incubation in gastric and pancreatic juice.
Thus, encapsulation preserved probiotic bacterial viability and activity; the addition of inulin
as a prebiotic component could enhance the functional properties of food products containing
this formulation.