The Microalga <i>Chlorella vulgaris</i> Supplements as a Factor Increasing the Survival of Potentially Probiotic Lactic Acid Bacteria Under Environmental Stress Conditions

Recent studies show that Chlorella vulgaris, due to its richness in nutrients, exhibits protective properties for probiotic strains of lactic acid bacteria (LAB). This creates an opportunity to produce more effective probiotics. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of two supplements of C. vulgaris on the growth and survival of LAB exposed to adverse stress factors (pH = 3, the presence of 0.2% and 0.5% bile salts). Survival was evaluated after 0 and 6 h of culture in the adverse stress environment. The results obtained, indicated statistically significant (p < 0.05) differences in the obtained growth and survival of the tested groups of LAB in the presence of C. vulgaris and the control sample. The study found that LAB showed the lowest survival rate in the presence of 0.5% bile salts, regardless of the culture variant. The results obtained suggest that the effect of C. vulgaris on the growth and survival of LAB strains depends on various factors, including the culture environment, the source of isolation of the strain and the chemical composition and nutritional content of the preparation. The results confirm the protective nature of C. vulgaris in the presence of high concentrations of bile salts and low pH.