Species in this genus are heterofermentative and adapted to the intestinal tract of vertebrates but also used for a wide variety of applications including food and feed fermentation.
L. fermentum differs from most or all other species in the genus as it has a nomadic lifestyle and is not a stable member of human or animal intestinal microbiota.
[14] A microorganism is considered a probiotic by meeting certain characteristics, such as being of human origin, non-pathogenic, having high resistance to passing through the intestine, and being beneficial to the immune system.
Research has shown that lactobacilli have been proven to remove cholesterol in vitro through various ways such as assimilation, binding to the surface cells, and incorporation into cellular membranes.
Tests conducted on the ME-3 strain in different bile concentrations found that it was able to survive without large loss in numbers.
After three weeks analysis of fecal samples revealed that the ME-3 strain increased the number of beneficial Lactobacilli in comparison to those who were given non-fermented milk.
[14] Properties of the strain ME-3 can serve to classify it as a probiotic that has the ability to protect its host against food-derived infections and also help in the prevention of oxidative damage of food.
Mice treated with a combination of ofloxacin and ME-3 revealed a reduction in liver and spleen granulomas of Salmonella Typhimurium.
[14] ME-3 is commercialized in the US, in Europe and in Asia in dietary supplement products for cardiovascular health, immune support or detoxification, under the brandname Reg'Activ.
There was no health difference observed between the control mice and those fed L.fermentum in terms of blood biochemistry, protein, albumin, glucose, and cholesterol.
Also no negative side effects during the experiment such as change in body weight, feed intake, or clinical signs such as diarrhea and ruffled fur, were observed.
[16] Limosilactobacillus fermentum has been identified in a rare case of cholecystitis[17] but is included in the EFSA list of bacteria with qualified presumed safety (QPS).
[18] Experiments conducted by introducing the strain ME-3 of L. fermentum into dairy products as a probiotic ingredient revealed that it was able to suppress the reputed contaminants of food such as pathogenic Salmonella spp., Shigella spp., and urinary tract infections that are caused by E. coli and Staphylococcus spp.
Also the introduction of L. fermentum strains such as ME-3 in goat milk revealed that it was actually favorable to the host, resulting in an increase in number of beneficial lactobacilli.
Research was carried out to observe the chemical constituents of tomato juice that stimulate the growth of bacteria that are responsible for the spoilage.
It was concluded that pectins are the main tomato juice constituents that protect the bacteria cells against destruction from heating.
L. fermentum is inherently vancomycin resistant, as are all other Lactobacillaceae with exception of species in the genera Lactobacillus, Holzapfelia and Amylolactobacillus.