The study was carried out to test the ability
of Enterococcus faecium, Lactobacillus acidophilus, L.
jugurti, Streptococcus thermophilus and L. delbrueckii
ssp bulgaricus to decrease cholesterol in vitro and to
grow in the presence of bile salts. Both properties were
dependent on the species under study. The cultures
were also inoculated into soymilk fortified with dry
milk whey powder as single or mixed starters. The physicochemical
and sensory evaluations of the fermented
products showed that E. faecium plus L. jugurti (ratio
1: 1) is the best combination, and this mixture also produces
a 43% decrease in cholesterol.