Abstract
Many probiotic microorganisms are used in fermented dairy products. Lactic acid bacteria (LAB), which is the most widely used among these, plays an important role in lowering the serum cholesterol level. In this study, cholesterol assimilation abilities of the Lactobacillus spp. isolated from Tulum cheese were determined and total cholesterol assimilation percentages varied between 68.22% and 12.19%. Bile and acid resistance and bile salt deconjugation of LAB, which have high cholesterol assimilation ability, were examined and their definitions were made with MALDI TOF MS. Starter culture combinations were created with selected microorganisms and cheese were produced. The cholesterol assimilation abilities in cheese were determined by HPLC and aroma compounds production were determined by GC-MS during 90 days of storage. At the end of 90 days of storage, cholesterol assimilation was determined as 52.85% in 1st group cheese, 33.12% in 2nd group cheese and 30.02% in control cheese. It was determined 2.3 butanedione, acetoin, acetic acid, caprylic acid and ethanol as flavoring agents in cheese groups.