Bifidobacterium Breve

Bifidobacterium breve

Bifidobacterium breve is a rod-shaped bacterium that belongs to the Bifidobacteriaceae family and Bifidobacterium genus. It is abundant in the digestive tract and women’s vaginal walls. This probiotic aids in digestion by producing acetic and lactic acid to break down food including non-digestible plant fibers. By lowering the pH of the digestive tract, Bifidobacterium breve also helps suppress the growth and reproduction of disease-causing bacteria.  

You can get a decent amount of Bifidobacterium breve in kombucha, water kefir, raw sauerkraut and other fermented food products. Supplements in the form of capsules, tablets, or powder, are another way to load up on these beneficial bacteria.

Benefits of Bifidobacterium breve

Researchers have established a wide array of health benefits linked to the consumption of Bifidobacterium breve:

Maintains a Healthy, Younger-Looking Skin

There is increasing evidence that Bifidobacterium breve supplementation can help fight the signs of skin aging. Results from two high quality studies show that the intake of fermented milk containing Bifidobacterium breve strain increased skin hydration and clearness in healthy young and adult women.^[1-2]  

Fights Allergy and Inflammation

Allergic reactions and inflammation are thought to be related to an increase in the production of Th2 lymphocytes, which are subtypes of white blood cells. Interestingly, one study found that Bifidobacterium breve BR03 strain supplementation in allergic asthmatics (20-35 years old) resulted in inhibition of Th2 lymphocytes production as well as improvement in allergy symptoms, indicating that Bifidobacterium breve has anti-allergy and anti-inflammatory properties.^[3]     

Helps Lose Weight

Accumulating evidence suggests an association between low levels of bacteria in the gut and the development of obesity. This raises the possibility of probiotic administration as a treatment for obesity. One clinical trial proved that probiotic supplementation in obese patients can be beneficial. According to the study, adults with obese tendencies who took one capsule of Bifidobacterium breve B-3 strain daily for 12 weeks experienced a significant reduction in fat mass compared to the group who took placebo.^[4]     

Boosts Immune Function

Probiotics are usually effective in treating infection in cancer patients, since infections in patients undergoing chemotherapy are mainly caused by a disruption in the delicate balance of good and bad bacteria in the gut. Interestingly, researchers at the Juntendo University Hospital found that Bifidobacterium breve strain Yakult administration in patients with malignancies admitted for chemotherapy was associated with lower incidence of fever and reduced use of intravenous antibiotics compared to the placebo-treated group.^[5]

Prevents Cancer

Infection caused by Helicobacter pylori, one of the most common disease-causing bacteria in the world, increases one’s risk for peptic ulcer and gastric cancer.^[6-7] Several lines of evidence show that intake of fermented milk products containing Bifidobacterium breve and other probiotic strain can help eradicate Helicobacter pylori in the gastrointestinal tract, suggesting that regular probiotic intake may help lower one’s risk for peptic ulcer and gastric cancer.^[6-7]    

References:

1. Mori N, Kano M, Masuoka N, et al. Effect of probiotic and prebiotic fermented milk on skin and intestinal conditions in healthy young female students. Bioscience of Microbiota, Food and Health. 2016;35(3):105-112. doi:10.12938/bmfh.2015-022.
2. Kano M, Masuoka N, Kaga C, et al. Consecutive Intake of Fermented Milk Containing Bifidobacterium breve Strain Yakult and Galacto-oligosaccharides Benefits Skin Condition in Healthy Adult Women. Bioscience of Microbiota, Food and Health. 2013;32(1):33-39. doi:10.12938/bmfh.32.33.
3. Drago L, De Vecchi E, Gabrieli A, De Grandi R, Toscano M. Immunomodulatory Effects of Lactobacillus salivarius LS01 and Bifidobacterium breve BR03, Alone and in Combination, on Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells of Allergic Asthmatics. Allergy, Asthma & Immunology Research. 2015;7(4):409-413. doi:10.4168/aair.2015.7.4.409.
4. Minami J, Kondo S, Yanagisawa N, et al. Oral administration of Bifidobacterium breve B-3 modifies metabolic functions in adults with obese tendencies in a randomised controlled trial. Journal of Nutritional Science. 2015;4:e17. doi:10.1017/jns.2015.5.
5. Wada M, Nagata S, Saito M, et al. Effects of the enteral administration of Bifidobacterium breve on patients undergoing chemotherapy for pediatric malignancies. Support Care Cancer. 2010;18(6):751-9.
6. Hohenberger P, Gretschel S. Gastric cancer. Lancet 2003; 362: 305–15.
7. Malfertheiner P, Megraud F, O’Morain C, et al. Current concepts in the management of Helicobacter pylori infection – the Maastricht 2-2000 Consensus Report. Aliment Pharmacol Ther 2002; 16: 167–80.