These strains were acquired lyophilized, and were kept
at 20 C. Appropriate quantity of each lyophilized bacteria was
grown in MRS broth (Oxoid) and incubated at 30 C for L. paracasei
and MRS broth þ cysteine (0.05%) (Panreac) under anaerobic conditions
for B. lactis, for 48 h. Each probiotic culture was properly
diluted in 0.9% NaCl solution with the aim to obtain a target inoculum
of 108e109 CFU/mL.