Bifidobacterium bacteria are regarded as a vital part to infant health. They are supposed to prevent the growth of disease-causing bacteria. Mother’s milk can help increase the development of Bifidobacterium. As the microbiome matures, Bifidobacterium decreases, and although it is a genus commonly found in the adult gut, its overall level generally makes up less than 3% of an individual’s total bacterial load.
The Bifidobacterium species are non-pathogenic, and are deliberately added to some food products because of their beneficial probiotic health effects.
These effects include better lactose tolerance, the prevention of diarrhea, a reduction in food allergies, and (as is also the case in infants) the inhibition of the growth of pathogenic organisms.
Higher levels:
– Increased levels seen in obese subjects compared to lean/overweight
Lower levels:
– A lower abundance has been associated with Irritable Bowel Syndrome.
– The amount of Bifidobacterium has also been measured at lower levels after weight-loss and gastric bypass surgery.
– Lower levels also measured in people with IBD and IBS.
– Lower levels seen in type 2 diabetes
– Lower levels seen in pediatric allergy
– Lower levels seen in autism
– Infants with lower Bifidobacterium may have increased risk for weight gain in childhood
References:
– Low Relative Abundances of the Mucolytic Bacterium Akkermansia muciniphila and Bifidobacterium spp. in Feces of Children with Autism [L]
– Bifidobacteria: their impact on gut microbiota composition and their applications as probiotics in infants. [L]
– Nursing our microbiota: molecular linkages between bifidobacteria and milk oligosaccharides. [L]
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