Heyndrickxia coagulans MTCC 5856 (branded as LactoSpore®) is a shelf-stable, spore-forming probiotic that produces the L(+) form of lactic acid. In a double-blind, placebo-controlled 30-day oral supplementation study in healthy adults, LactoSpore® was found to be safe and well tolerated.
Gut Microbiome, Probiotics & Why They Matter
The gut microbiome is a diverse community of microorganisms that live in the gastrointestinal tract, particularly along the intestinal lining. These microbes have a long-standing, beneficial relationship with humans and play an important role in supporting everyday digestive and overall wellness.
Probiotics are live microorganisms that are commonly used to support the natural balance of the gut microbiome. When used consistently, probiotics may help maintain a healthy gut environment and support everyday digestive function, such as regularity and nutrient absorption.
As part of normal digestion and microbial activity, beneficial bacteria can also produce helpful compounds (often referred to as “byproducts”), including short-chain fatty acids and certain vitamins. These compounds play roles in supporting normal immune and metabolic function.
The gut also communicates with the nervous system through nerves, hormones, and immune signaling, often called the gut–brain connection. Because of this, maintaining a healthy, balanced microbiome may contribute to broader aspects of wellness beyond digestion.
Today’s lifestyles can put pressure on microbiome balance. Factors such as highly processed diets, excess alcohol, smoking, and long-term use of certain medications may disrupt the natural microbial ecosystem. Supporting beneficial gut bacteria through a fiber-rich diet and, when appropriate, probiotic supplementation can be a simple way to help maintain digestive comfort and overall wellness.
As a shelf-stable, spore-forming probiotic, LactoSpore® is designed to support microbiome balance as part of a daily wellness routine.
Health Benefits
Among the many probiotics studied, lactic acid producing bacteria have a long history of use in supporting digestive wellness. Heyndrickxia coagulans is a spore forming, lactic acid producing probiotic that is used to support gut microbiome balance.
LactoSpore® is a branded probiotic ingredient made from Heyndrickxia coagulans MTCC 5856. Because it is spore forming, LactoSpore® is designed to remain stable during processing, packaging, and storage. It is standardized to deliver a targeted level of viable spores to help support passage through the digestive tract and promote a healthy, balanced gut microbiome.
LactoSpore® has been evaluated in human clinical studies and is supported by a body of scientific research.
Functional foods
A wide range of probiotic microorganisms, including strains from Lactobacillus, Bifidobacterium, and Enterococcus, have been evaluated for use in functional food applications. As interest in probiotics has grown, so has the variety of delivery formats, including baked foods, beverages, and fruit-based products.
One common formulation challenge is that many live probiotic bacteria can lose viability during manufacturing and storage. Heat, moisture, oxygen exposure, and other processing conditions can be difficult for non-spore forming bacteria to tolerate, which may reduce live counts before consumption.
To help protect viability, some probiotics are formulated using techniques such as encapsulation or other protective processes. These approaches can also help probiotics better tolerate conditions encountered during handling, transportation, and passage through the digestive tract.
Heyndrickxia coagulans is different because it is spore forming. This spore form can improve stability across a wider range of processing and storage conditions and may help the probiotic better tolerate exposure to stomach acid and bile. As a result, spore-forming probiotics can be well suited for use in a broader range of functional food delivery systems.
In a recent study, researchers evaluated how common manufacturing processes and storage conditions for baked foods, beverages, and fruit preserves affect the viability of Heyndrickxia coagulans MTCC 5856. The strain demonstrated strong stability across these applications, including under baking conditions and during frozen storage.
Overall, this processing and storage resilience can make Heyndrickxia coagulans MTCC 5856 a suitable option for a wide range of functional food and supplement formats, including juices, gummies, coffee, tea, confectionery, and select fat-based applications such as vegetable oils.