Five treatments were conducted in three separate independent trials: St (composed of S. thermophilus TA040), La (composed of L. acidophilus La-5), Bb (composed of B. animalis subsp. lactis BB-12), StBb (composed of S. thermophilus TA040 + B. animalis subsp. lactis
BB-12), and StLa (composed of S. thermophilus TA040 + L. acidophilus La-5).