Figure 1.

An important challenge facing the probiotic industry today is to understand the extent to which different factors influence probiotic physiology. Probiotic physiology will, in turn, influence in vivo functionality and stability. The extent to which these factors influence probiotic physiology should be expected to be strain-specific unless demonstrated otherwise. Demonstration of bioequivalency among different delivery formats and production methods is an important step in developing evidence-substantiating efficacy.