According to FAO/WHO probiotics are ‘live microorganisms that, when administered in adequate amounts, confer a health benefit on the host’.
Goods that contain probiotic bacteria are, among others, dairy products, and dietary supplements, such as tablets, capsules, sachets, or other formulations. It is generally agreed that, as living organisms, probiotics should survive the upper gastrointestinal tract conditions during their passage towards the colon. Similarly, survival, and/or modulation of (ingested) probiotics during their passage through the lower gastrointestinal tract (i.e. large intestine) and the conditions that are related hereto, are also of importance.
Studying probiotic survival in the (upper) gastrointestinal tract is difficult to establish in humans. Therefore, TIM Technology is an indispensable alternative.
A TIM survival Study is a valuable tool in the development and evaluation of new products and/or formulations containing probiotic bacteria. Changes in the formulation, composition, (enteric) coating of a tablet, optimal conditions of intake, dosage etc. of a product can be easily monitored, assessed and defined by the use of an in vitro TIM survival Study.
Examples of TIM Studies are, but not limited to, the following:
- Survival of probiotic strains during transit through the upper gastrointestinal tract (stomach and small intestine): TIM-1 Study
- Survival of probiotic strains during transit through the lower gastrointestinal tract (colon): TIM-2 study.
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