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Lactobacillus
Characteristics: Rod-shaped, gram+, facultative anaerobes. Metabolize by fermentation to produce mainly lactate, but may give some acetate, ethanol & CO2.¹

The lactobacilli may help control Clostridium perfringens, Candida albicans, and help to eliminate excess Escheria coli after antibiotic use. The penicillins are the antibiotics that most disrupt microflora in the gut and vagina, so supplementing with lactobacilli may be desirable in these instances.²
Bacterial Strain	Function
Lactobacillus acidophilus	Enhanced phagocytosis¹⁰, inhibition of uropathogens in human vagina (especially C. albicans),^4,5 aids in developing natural defenses against intestinal bacteria and viral infections as well as decreasing the duration of diarrhea in children⁶, reduce fecal putrefactive bacteria⁷, appears to decrease H. pylori density in the human stomach ⁸.
Lactobacillus rhamnosus	Immune enhancing response⁹, aid in food allergic inflammation, stimulates phagocytosis¹⁰, reduces antibiotic-associated diarrhea in children¹¹.
Lactobacillus gasseri	Antibacterial activity in the female genitourinary tract^3,12, involved in release of bioactive hydroxycinnamic acids that exhibit anticarcinogenic & antioxidant properties¹³, suppression of H. pylori and gastric mucosal inflammation¹⁴

Bifidobacteria

Characteristics: Varied rod-shaped, gram+, anaerobes. Readily ferment carbohydrates to produce acetic & lactic acid.

Bifidobacteria comprise >30 species, with Bifidobacteria longum as the most common strain found in the intestinal tract from infant to adult. Bifidobacteria may reduce antibiotic induced fluctuations in intestinal bacteria, especially when erythromycin is the drug of choice². These strains are important for the production of thiamine (B1), riboflavine (B2), pyridoxine (B6), folic acid, cyanocobalamine (B12), and nicotinic acid.
Bacterial Strain	Function
Bifidobacteria longum	Reduces erythromycin-induced GI distress¹⁵ and anticarcinogenic especially for the colon¹⁶^,17,25 inhibits growth of harmful enzymes¹⁸^,28.
Strain B	High affinity for intestinal colonization¹⁹, improves intestinal environment, defecation frequency & fecal characterisitics^20,21,22, better regularity²³, lowers activity of H.pylori and facilitates recovery to normal GI conditions after use of antibiotics²⁴.
Strain M	Antitumorigenic effects^16,25, and may protect against colon cancer²⁶
Bifidobacteria bifidum	Enhanced immune response²⁷, inhibits harmful enzymes and lowers pH²⁸, antibacterial against many pathogens including E. coli, Salmonella sp., Shigella sp.²⁹
Bifidobacteria infantis	Promotes recovery from acute diarrhea by reducing incidence of necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) in newborns³⁰, inhibits growth of harmful enzymes²⁸ and pathogenic bacteria³¹
Bifidobacteria breve	Enhanced immune response², passive protection against rotavirus-induced diarrhea ^32,33, stabilization of intestinal flora^34,35, stimulates the immune system³⁶, infection control against S. aureus in neonatal ICU³⁷
Bifidobacteria lactis	Improved immunity in the elderly^38,39,40 responsible for release of natural antioxidants⁴¹, may help with atopic eczema⁴²

References:

1.Williams & Wilkins, Bergy's Manual of Determinative Bact., 9th ed., p. 566 & 573, 1994.
2. Weber, G., Lactobacilli and Human Health. Pharm/alert, vol 4 (1), April 1997.
3. Boris, et al., Infect Immun, 66(5): 1985-1989, 1998
4. Hilton, et al., Annals of Int Med, 116:353-357, 1992
5. Elmer, et al., JAMA, 275:870-876, 1996
6. Lee, et al. Acta Paediatr Taiwan, 42(5): 301-305
7. Reddy, et al., Cancer Research 53, 3914-3918, 1993
8. Vilaichone, et al., J Med Assoc Thai, 85 Suppl 1(): S79-84, 2002
9. Alvarez-Olmos, et al., Clin Infect Diseases, 32(11):1567-1576, 2001
10. Isolauri, E., Am J Clin Nutr, 73(suppl): 1142S-1146S, 2001
11. Arvola, et al, Pediatrics, 104(5):e64, 1999
12. Charteris, et al., World J Microbio & Biotech, 17(6): 615-625, 2001
13. Couteau, et al., J Appl Microbiol, 90(6): 873-881, 2001
14. Sakamoto, et al., J Antimicrob Chemother, 47(5): 709-710, 2001
15. Colombel, et al., The Lancet, July 4, 2(8549), 1987
16. Challa, et al., Carcinogenesis, vol 18, no 3, 517-521, 1997
17. Singh, et al., Carcinogenesis, vol 18, no 4, 833-841, 1997
18. Yamada, et al., Acta Neonatologica Japonica, 38, 294, 2002
19. Ballongue, et al., Lait 73, 249-256, 1993
20. Ogata, et al., Biosci Microflora, vol. 16 (2), 53-58, 1997
21. Kingaku, et al., Microbial Ecol in Health and Disease, 11: 41-46, 1999
22. Yaeshima, et al., Biosci and Microflora, vol 16(2), 1997
23. Seki, et al., J Jpan Soc Nutri Food Sci, vol 34(4), 379-387, 1978
24. de Vrese, et al., Int'l Conf of Intestinal Bacteriology, 2001
25. Kulkarni, et al., P.S.E.B.M, vol 207, 1994
26.Reddy, et al., Cancer Research 53, 3914-3918, 1993
27. Isolauri, E., Am J Clin Nutr, 73(suppl): 1142S-1146S, 2001
28. Park, et al., Arch Pharm Res, 21(1): 54-61, 1998
29. Baron, J. et al. "Friendly Bacteria-L. acidophilus & Bifidobacterium", 1989
30. Lee ,et al., Acta Paediatr TaiwanI, 42(5): 301-305
31. Giboson, et al., J Appl Bacteriol, 77(4): 412-420, 1994
32. Saavedra, J. Am J Clin Nutr, 73(suppl): 1147S-1151S, 2001
33. Araki, et al., Kansenshogaku Zasshi, 73(4): 305-310, 1999
34. Benno, et al., Microbiol Immunol, 29(3): 243-250, 1985
35. Kitajima, et al., Arch Dis Child Fetal Neonatal Ed, 76(2): F101-107, 1997
36. Yamazaki, et al., Bifidobact Microflora, vol 10(1), 19-31, 1991
37. Yamada, et al., Acta Neonatologica Japonica, 38, 294, 2002
38. Gill, et al., Am J Clin Nutr, 74(6): 833-839, 2001
39. Rutherfurd, et al., J Clin Immunol, 21(4): 264-271, 2001
40. Arunachalam, et al., Eur J Clin Nutr, 54(3): 263-267, 2000
41. Couteau, et al., J Appl Microbiol, 90(6): 873-881, 2001
42. Isolarui, et al., Clin Exp Allergy, 30(11): 1604-1610, 2000