Bifidobacterium

Bifidobacterium is another of the useful lactic acid producing bacteria (it also produces acetic acid.) It make up the largest group of bacteria in the intestines of babies but as we age, the percentage of Bifidobacterium in our intestinal tract decreases although it is still of vital importance to our health.

They are natural colonizers of the human intestinal tract and the vagina where, although they are not the largest group are key bacteria in promoting a healthy gut¹.

The commonest species found in humans include Bifidobacterium longum, B infantis, B breve, B bifidum, B adolescentis and B pseudocatenulatum.

The commonest species found in animals include B pseudolongum, B thermophilus and B animalis. The animal species are rarely found in the human intestinal tract and human species are almost never found in animal intestines.

Babies are born without any bacteria in their intestines and the first ones to colonize are from the Bifidobacterium family.

12 species of Bifidobacterium have been associated with humans: Bifidobacterium adolescentis, B infantis, B longum, B bifidum, B breve, B catenulatum, B pseudocatenulatum, B angulatum, B gallicum, B inopinatum, B dentium, and B denticolens⁴. So these are the ones that naturally "belong" to the human gastrointestinal tract (and a few other area of our bodies.)

What food is it found in?

Just like some other useful bacteria, many Bifidobacteria species are found in fermented dairy foods, especially yogurt.

And remember that nondigestible carbohydrates (NDCHs) are fermented in the colon, where they can selectively promote the growth of bifidobacteria. So by eating plenty of non-digestible carboydrates you can naturally increase your supply of these helpful bacteria

The side effects of a diet too high in fiber include wind and bowel distention so make sure you increase your fiber slowly to give your existing bacteria time to be accustomed to this extra source.

It can also be found in many probiotic supplements such as Align Digestive Care.

You can read about my own experiences with this supplement Align and antibiotic diarrhea. Antibiotics are strongly detrimental to the survival of Bifidobacterium.

Strains of Bifidobacterium

This list is from Wiki

Some of these species of Bifidobacteria are of much more importance than others and it this sheer number and diversity that means a good supplement should always state which strain it contains.

Two species are often confused due to name changes back in 2004 - Bifidobacterium animalis and B lactis.

Why you need Bifidobacteria

Although Bifidobacteria make up only 3 to 6% of the bacteria count in adult stools, their presence has been associated with many beneficial health effects such as the prevention of diarrhea, the reduction of lactose intolerance, an immune enhancement¹.

They assist with both vitamin and protein synthesis, assist in digestion and absorption, prevent colonization of bad bacteria, and stimulate the immune response. ³

Some strains of this bacteria have been successful in either treating or helping with necrotizing enterocolitis (in infants), diarrhea in infants, traveler's diarrhea, atopic eczema, IBS, pouchitis, Helicobacter pylori and ulcerative colitis.

It is often used in combination with other probiotics so that a multi- probiotic is often your best supplement with this particular bacteria. Some strains such as Bifantis have been trademarked.

You can see that most of the health problems where it has shown to be of use are to do with gastrointestinal tract.

Antibiotics can severly affect the populations of all strains of Bifidobacteria so that a supplment may be necessary after finiishing your course of antibiotics.

REFERENCES

Looking for info on probiotics?

	Enter your search terms Submit search form
	Web www.probiotics-lovethatbug.com