{"id":26573,"date":"2019-11-29T15:57:18","date_gmt":"2019-11-29T23:57:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/selfhacked.com\/?p=26573"},"modified":"2021-09-20T09:18:17","modified_gmt":"2021-09-20T16:18:17","slug":"b-animalis","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/selfhacked.com\/blog\/b-animalis\/","title":{"rendered":"9+ Benefits of Bifidobacterium animalis (B. lactis)"},"content":{"rendered":"

B. animalis <\/em>(especially its subspecies B. lactis<\/em>) is an important component of the healthy gut flora. It may promote GI well-being, especially in children, and some evidence suggests it may help the body prevent and fight off infections. What else could it do? Read on to find out.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

What is Bifidobacterium animalis<\/em>?<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n

Bifidobacterium animalis<\/em> is a gram-positive rod-shaped bacterium which can be found in the gut of most mammals, including humans. It is considered to be part of the healthy, beneficial gut flora [R<\/a>].<\/p>\n

B. lactis <\/em>was previously considered to be a separate species but was shown to be a subspecies of B. animalis<\/em> (hence B. animalis<\/em> ssp. lactis<\/em>) (R<\/a>), and therefore it is addressed as such in this post. Note that most of the research mentioned below were carried out with this subspecies.<\/em><\/p>\n

Potential Benefits of B. animalis<\/em><\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n

B. animalis<\/em> probiotic supplements have not been approved by the FDA for medical use and generally lack solid clinical research. Regulations set manufacturing standards for them but don’t guarantee that they’re safe or effective. Speak with your doctor before supplementing.<\/p>\n

Possibly Effective For<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n

1) Gut Health<\/h4>\n

Diarrhea and Constipation<\/h5>\n

B. lactis<\/em> milk formula administered to 50 children with acute diarrhea decreased the frequency, duration of diarrhea<\/strong>, and hospital stay (R<\/a>).<\/p>\n

B. animalis<\/em> spp. lactis<\/em> prevented acute diarrhea<\/strong> in 90 infants (R<\/a>).<\/p>\n

Treatment with B. animalis<\/em> spp. lactis<\/em> and inulin shortened the duration of acute diarrhea in 156 children. The benefits were most pronounced in cases of Rotavirus <\/em>diarrhea (R<\/a>).<\/p>\n

B. animalis<\/em> spp. lactis<\/em> together with Streptococcus thermophilus<\/em> reduced the frequency of antibiotic-associated diarrhea (AAD) in 80 infants (R<\/a>).<\/p>\n

Ingestion of fresh cheese enriched with B. animalis<\/em> spp. lactis<\/em> showed beneficial effects on <\/strong>constipation<\/strong><\/a> symptoms in women (R<\/a>).<\/p>\n

Fermented milk containing B. animalis<\/em> spp. lactis <\/em>had beneficial effects on stool frequency, defecation condition and stool consistency in 135 adult women with constipation (R<\/a>).<\/p>\n

B. animalis<\/em> ssp. lactis<\/em> increased Bifidobacteria and improved constipation<\/strong> in 17 human subjects (R<\/a>).<\/p>\n

IBS<\/h5>\n

B. animalis<\/em> had a beneficial effect on discomfort, bloating and constipation<\/strong> in 274 constipation-predominant IBS<\/a> patients (R<\/a>).<\/p>\n

B animalis<\/em> spp. lactis <\/em>significantly improved objectively measured abdominal girth and gastrointestinal transit, as well as reduced symptomatology in 34 IBS<\/strong> patients (R<\/a>).<\/p>\n

H. pylori<\/h5>\n

B. animalis<\/em> spp. lactis <\/em>and inulin significantly reduced treatment side effects<\/strong> and indirectly increased eradication rates by increasing patient compliance in 47 patients with symptomatic H. pylori<\/em> infection (R<\/a>).<\/p>\n