## 5. Probiotic Strains Used in Yogurt and Related Probiotic Milk Beverages and Their Health Benefits
[267] found a reduced average and cumulative duration of common infectious diseases and reduced episodes and cumulative durations of upper respiratory tract infections and rhinopharyngitis in the free-living elderly upon consumption of a fermented dairy product containing _L. casei_ DN-114001. Marcos et al. [268] studied anxiety levels and immune responses of academically-stressed university students who consumed fermented milk containing _L. casei_ DN-114001 versus a control. Although there was no significant difference in treatment effect in anxiety, they found that consumption of this fermented drink modified the number of lymphocytes and CD56 cells in the stressed students [268]. _Lacticaseibacillus paracasei_ (formerly _Lactobacillus casei_) Shirota strain is used in a fermented milk drink called Yakult(r) and is GRAS (GRN Number 429). This product was launched in 1935 and is fermented by this probiotic until a titratable acidity of 2% is reached [269]. The resulting curd is broken, sweetened and flavored, homogenized at 15 MPa, and diluted with water before being packaged into 65-mL plastic bottles. This strain is indigenous in the human intestinal tract [270]. Yasuda et al. [271] analyzed genes in _L. casei_ strain Shirota (YIT 9029) related to synthesis of polysaccharides associated with the cell wall involved in regulating host immunity based on their unpublished in-house data of the complete genome sequence of this probiotic. Kato-Kataoka et al. [272] reportedthat medical students who daily consumed fermented milk containing _L. casei_ strain Shirota displayed fewer physical symptoms when exposed to stressful academic examinations. _Lacticaseibacillus rhamnous_ GG (Gorbach and Goldin) (formerly _Lactobacillus rhamnus_ GG and _Lactobacillus acidophilus_ GG and also called LGG) (ATCC accession number 53103) (GRN Numbers 845 and 1013) is a widely studied probiotic. It has been patented [273; 274] and its complete genome sequence has been published [275]. Capurso [276] reviewed the effect of _L. rhamnus_ GG on gastrointestinal infections and diarrhea, antibiotic and _Clostridium difficile_ associated diarrhea, irritable bowel syndrome, inflammatory bowel disease, respiratory tract infections, allergy, cardiovascular diseases, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, nonalcoholic steatohepatitis, cystic fibrosis, cancer, exercise physiology, and the elderly. Szajewska and Hojsak [277] concluded that the symptoms of acute gastroenteritis can be managed and antibiotic-associated diarrhea can be prevented upon administering _L. rhamnus_ GG to toddlers and older children. _Limosilatobacillus_ (formerly _Lactobacillus_) _reuteri_ DSM 17,938 is GRAS (GRN Number 254), and its use in treating various pediatric gastrointestinal disorders has been recently reviewed [278]. This species inhibits pathogen growth by secreting reuterin and other substances and restores homeostasis by interacting with intestinal microbiota and mucosa. Furthermore, this species can increase the pain threshold and gastrointestinal motility. The duration of acute diarrhea and hospitalization for acute gastroenteritis can be decreased. Likewise, antibiotic-associated side effects from treating _Helicobacter pylori_ infections can also be decreased with this species [278]. _Lactiplantiobacillus plantarum_ (formerly _Lactobacillus plantarum_) can successfully be used in producing probiotic cygurt. Li et al. [279] added various strains of _L. plantarum_ to produce yogurt. They found that milk as a medium is appropriate as a carrier for _L. plantarum_ because of their survival both during fermentation and storage. No negative sensory quality effects were found. Strain IMAU 70,095 of _L. plantarum_ was found to be the most suitable strain for yogurt [279]. _L. plantarum_ CCFM47 and CCFM232, _L. acidophilus_ CCFM6, and _L. rhamnus_ GG were able to inhibit \(\alpha\)-glucosidase and survive at rates up to 60% in simulated gastrointestinal juice [280]. Furthermore, viability of _L. plantarum_ CCFM47 and _L.