Development ofBifidobacterium lactis Bb 12 onβ-(2,6)-Linked Fructan-Containing Substrate

β-(2,1)-linked fructan of plant origin (inulin) and the related oligosaccharides (FOS) as non-digestible carbohydrates, i.e., potent prebiotics, can stimulate the growth of various probiotic lactic acid bacteria, including a number of bifidobacteria strains. The related (3-(2,6)-linked fructans of microbial origin (levan and FOS), however, have scarcely been investigated in this respect. Therefore, the bifidogenic properties of various fructans, i.e., inulin, levan, fructooligosaccharides (FOS) and fructan syrup (FS), were tested as glucose substitutes in MRS media and were compared concerning their effect on the commercial strain Bifidobacterium lactis Bb 12. Although glucose was the prefe…