Metabolic disorders caused by the imbalance of gut microbiota have been associated with the consumption of processed foods. Thus, this study aimed to evaluate the effects of antimicrobial food additives (benzoate, sorbate, nitrite, and bisulfite) and sweeteners (saccharin, stevia, sucralose, aspartame, and cyclamate) on the growth and metabolism of some gut and potentially probiotic bacterial species. The effects on the growth of Bifidobacterium longum, Enterococcus faecium, Lactobacillus acidophilus, and Lactococcus lactis subsp. lactis cultures were investigated using a turbidimetric test and by determining the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC). To evaluate the metabolic activity, the cultures were exposed to compounds with the highest antimicrobial activity, subjected to cultivation with inulin (1.5%), and analyzed by liquid chromatography for the production of short-chain fatty acids (acetate, propionate, and butyrate). The results showed that potassium sorbate (25 mg/mL), sodium bisulfite (0.7 mg/mL), sodium benzoate, and saccharin (5 mg/mL) presented greater antimicrobial activity against the studied species. L. lactis and L. acidophilus bacteria had reduced short-chain fatty acid production after exposure to saccharin and sorbate, and B. longum after exposure to sorbate, in comparison to controls (acetic acid reduction 1387 μg/mL and propionic 23 μg/mL p < 0.05).

Federal Institute of Education Science and Technology of Piauí Portal Dos Cerrados ZIP Code PI 247 Uruçui PI 64860 000 Brazil

Food Engineering and Technology Department School of Food Engineering Microbiological Analysis Laboratory State University of Campinas Monteiro Lobato Street 80 ZIP Code 13083 862 Campinas SP Brazil

Microbiology Division Pluridisciplinary Center for Chemical Biological and Agricultural Research State University of Campinas Alexandre Cazellato 999 SP ZIP code 13148 218 Paulinia Brazil

Organic and Pharmaceutical Chemical Division Pluridisciplinary Center for Chemical Biological and Agricultural Research State University of Campinas Alexandre Cazellato 999 SP 13148 218 Paulinia Brazil

School of Applied Sciences State University of Campinas Pedro Zaccaria 1300 SP 13484 350 Limeira Brazil

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