Biological functions of exopolysaccharides from lactic acid bacteria and their potential benefits for humans and farmed animals

35 p.-1 tab.Lactic acid bacteria (LAB) synthesize exopolysaccharides (EPS), which are structurally diverse biopolymers with a broad range of technological properties and bioactivities. There is scientific evidence that these polymers have health-promoting properties. Most commercialized probiotic microorganisms for consumption by humans and farmed animals are LAB and some of them are EPS-producers indicating that some of their beneficial properties could be due to these polymers. Probiotic LAB are currently used to improve human health and for the prevention and treatment of specific pathologic conditions. They are also used in food-producing animal husbandry, mainly due to their abilities to promote growth and inhibit pathogens via different mechanisms, among which the production of EPS could be involved. Thus, the aim of this review is to discuss the current knowledge of the characteristics, usage and biological role of EPS from LAB, as well as their postbiotic action in humans and animals, and to predict the future contribution that they could have on the diet of food animals to improve productivity, animal health status and impact on public healthThe present work was supported by the Spanish Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities (grant RTI2018-097114-B-I00), by the University of the Basque Country (GIU19/014) and by CONICET (Proyecto PUE 058), National Agency for Scientific and Technological Promotion (Proyecto PICT 2016-3495) and Universidad Nacional del Litoral (Proyecto CAI+D 50120150100152LI, CAI+D 50120150100151LI, CAI+D 50620190100152LI and CAI+D Orientado 2016 2-14).Peer reviewe