Bifidobacterium breve

Bifidobacterium breve is a type of bacteria found in the human body. It has many health benefits and are often described as “friendly” bacteria. It lives closely and mainly in the intestines of humans. It has been used to treat a few conditions like constipation and diarrhoea and even the cold and flu.

It is often found in the stomach and intestines of babies who drink breast milk. It is also found in human breast milk. This bacteria can help fight harmful germs. It does not have antibiotic resistance that can be passed to other bacteria, which makes it safe to use. This means it is also not toxic to human cells.

B. breve can help support the immune system. It may protect new-born babies from other infections, especially if they are born early, getting chemotherapy, or taking antibiotics.

Doctors have used B. breve with a lot of health problems in children. These are:

·      Infant colic (a lot of crying lasting weeks)

·      Coeliac disease (not being able to digest gluten)

·      Obesity (people who are very overweight)

·      Constipation (not being able to go to the toilet)

·      Being born early

·      NEC (serious illness that affects infants)

B. breve Yakult is a specific type of this bacteria that is used as a probiotic. It helps with digestion in the gut. It is one of the first that shows it can change the mix of bacteria in the gut.

## Use in Treating Disease

B. breve that is used together with prebiotic or probiotics has shown some helpful effects. It has been studies for its role in different health problems in the human body.

It is used as part of a treatment plan of Irritable Bowel Disease (IBD). A mix of different live bacteria that includes B.breve is sometimes used for this.

When Bifidobacteria is taken with Lactobacillus to treat Helicobacter Pylori (a harmful stomach bacterium), the treatment works better and has fewer side effects. B.breve also helps people with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). It can help ease symptoms like bloating, constipation and stomach pain.

## Link to Obesity

B. breve may be linked to chronic obesity. Research has shown that the kinds of bacteria found in the human gut is connected to weight gain. Because of this, B. breve is being studied to see if it can help with weight control.

A study done by _Bioscience of Microbiota, Food and Health (BMFH)_ tested a type called B. breve B-3 in people who were starting to gain too much weight. The results suggest it might help stop or reverse obesity. However more studies are needed to confirm this.

## Gut brain connection and Alzheimer's Disease

Bifidobacterium may be linked to stomach health. This is being researched along with its link to the brain through something called the microbiota gut- brain axis. This is the idea that bacteria in the gut can affect how the brain works.

A type of B. breve called A1 has been tested in mouses to see if it can help with Alzheimer’s disease. The results are promising so far. The bacteria may help slow down or even reverse the disease in mice, but more human research is needed. Mice is used for research because of their genetic and physical similarities to humans.

## Gut bacteria in new-borns

Babies start to get bacteria in their gut at birth. There has been some research that even suggests bacteria may pass from the mother to the baby before birth.

The way a baby is born affects how they get their first gut bacteria. Babies born naturally (through birth canal) usually get bacteria that is similar to those in the mother’s vagina. Babies born by caesarean section (C-section) tend to get bacteria from their mother’s skin.

How a baby is fed also affects the gut bacteria. Breast-fed babies have more B. breve in their gut compared to babies who are formula-fed. This might be because breast milk makes the baby’s gut more acidic, which helps B. breve grow.

## Uses in food technology

Because of its helpful properties, B. breve is also used in making fermented foods. It is used to ferment milk and soy milk.

Studies have shown that B. breve fermented soy milk can:

- Improve how the body breaks down fats
- Help the body process alcohol better
- Lower the risk of breast cancer in mice

These effects have been found in laboratory studies using mouse models. However more studies in humans are needed.