Stratum Resource post, The Bifidogenic Effect: An Effect That Boosts Bifidobacteria Populations

call to action section background image

The Bifidogenic Effect: An Effect That Boosts Bifidobacteria Populations

What are Bifidobacteria?

Anaerobic Bacteria

Bifidobacteria enable the preparation of fermented milk such as cheese or yogurt. Indeed, they belong to the family of lactic acid bacteria. Their name comes from the Latin “bifidus” which means “divided into two parts”. This refers to its specific Y-shaped morphology. Finally, bifidobacteria are anaerobic bacteria, meaning that they are unable to survive in the presence of oxygen.

Bacteria Living in the Gut Microbiota

Moreover, they are part of the gut microbiota. These bacteria of the gastrointestinal tract dominate the gut of healthy breastfed infants. Their level in guts drastically decrease with age¹. Thus, bifidobacteria are present in host due to genetics but needs to be stimulate throughout life. Some molecules can stimulate the growth of bifidobacteria that already live in the anaerobic environment of the human gut. This is known as the bifidogenic effect.

 

What are the Health Benefits of the Bifidobacteria?

Bifidobacteria appeared to be a predominant bacterial group in our gut since birth. Its decrease leads to an unbalance, a dysbiosis. This dysbiosis condition of the gut microbiota strongly affects our health status. Indeed, it contributes to the increase of the incidence of immune mediated disorders later in life². It has been shown that bifidobacteria interact with human immune cells and modulate specific pathways, involving innate and adaptive immune processes. All these data point to a critical role for bifidobacteria in the maturation of our immune system from gestation to childhood, suggesting that the low abundance of these early colonizers is associated with a deviated physiological state in infancy. Indeed, current evidence suggests a role of early life bifidobacteria establishment in programming future health³.

Moreover, bifidobacteria are friendly bacteria in the gut. Thus, their decrease gives more space for harmful bacteria to reside.

 

Why Talk About Bifidogenic Effect?

Scientific studies have recently proven that our postbiotic Lactobacillus LB has a bifidogenic effect. 

 Lactobacillus LB, with over 40 published studies and clinicals, works with your own microbiome to promote a healthy microbiota. 

Emerging Interest in Bifidobacteria

Recently, there has been a revival of interest of these bacteria due to their utility in functional foods. Unfortunately, the bifidogenic effect is still poorly understood by consumers. Positioning products on this effect and making it explicit would help the consumer to see it more clearly.

 

Let's discuss formulating your next digestive health product with LBiome™.

 

References:

1. Martinez et al., 2014; Odamaki et al., 2016.

2. Dominguez-Bello et al., 2019; Mohammadkhah et al., 2018; Sonnenburg and Sonnenburg, 2019.

3. Ruiz et al., 2017.