The objective of this study was to
evaluate the GABA-production capacity in a whole wheat flour medium of lactic acid bacteria strains that
showed a high conversion of glutamic acid to GABA in a screening conducted in 58 Spanish artisanal
cheeses. Synthesis of GABA by these strains in a non-optimized whole wheat flour in water solution (1:5)
was quantified by High-Performance Liquid Chromatography. The 4 strains showing the highest GABA
production were genotypically and phenotypically characterized. Results indicated an interesting
fermentative variability between strains. The addition of these isolated lactic acid strains in fermented
food products could allow a potentially functional food for regulating hypertension.