The Yeast-Based Probiotic Encapsulation Scenario: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Abstract

One of the biggest challenges in the food industry is the incorporation of probiotics into food products while maintaining their properties, both in the processing phases and in the gastrointestinal tract. The production of this type of functional food, which has been used to prevent and/or help in the treatment of some diseases, needs improvements at the technological and economic levels. This review provides a comprehensive view of the main techniques used to encapsulate probiotic yeasts and analyzes the main variables involved in the industrial process. A systematic review and meta-analysis were carried out, considering the most current technical recommendations for this type of study, as well as the standardized criteria for the eligibility of articles. From a total of 1269 initial articles, only 14 complete articles, published in high-impact journals over the years 2013 to 2019 and focused on in vitro assays with probiotic yeasts, were considered in the analysis performed. In general, microencapsulation was efficient in maintaining yeast survival after gastrointestinal tests, viability studies, and thermal resistance in distilled water and food. Many variables can affect microencapsulation, but they are not always described or properly elucidated, leading to the conclusion that better delineated research is needed. Examples of these challenges include selecting appropriate encapsulating materials, optimizing encapsulation techniques, and ensuring the stability and viability of probiotics during processing and storage. Due to these challenges, the industrial application of probiotic microencapsulation is not yet well established; however, it holds promising potential.