Search Results (10)

Background: Probiotic supplementation for very preterm infants is a common practice in many neonatal units. Assessing the effects of early postnatal exposure to probiotics on long-term neurodevelopment, growth, and atopy-related outcomes is important. Extremely preterm (EP: <28 weeks) infants enrolled in our previously reported randomized trial (SiMPro) comparing short-term effects of single (SS: B. breve M-16V) versus triple-strain (TS: B. breve M-16V, B. longum subsp. infantis-M63, B. longum subsp. longum-BB536) probiotic provided a unique opportunity to study this issue. Methods: This follow-up study assessed the five-year outcomes of SiMPro trial infants, including neurodevelopment (cognition (Full Scale Intelligence Quotient/ FSIQ using WPPSI-IV), behavior (Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire), executive function (BRIEF–P)), growth (anthropometry) and blood pressure (BP). Atopy-related outcomes were evaluated at six to seven years using the ISAAC questionnaire. A linear mixed model was used for longitudinal outcomes. Impairment indicators were modeled using logistic regression and adjusted for Socio-Economic Indexes for Areas (SEIFA) centiles. Results: Follow-up rates (SS: 89.2% versus TS: 95%), neurodevelopmental outcomes [severe impairment (FSIQ < 70): SS: 7.4% versus TS: 4.3%; p = 0.68], growth, BMI, and BP were comparable between the SS and TS groups. The total difficulty score or BRIEF–P executive indices, disability rates (none: 66.7% versus 55.4%), and atopy-related outcomes were comparable between groups. Conclusions: Both TS and SS Bifidobacterium probiotic formulations were safe, with comparable neurodevelopmental, growth, and atopy-related outcomes at school age. Full article

Background: Oral probiotic intake is suggested to have positive effects on skin. We aimed to elucidate the effects of oral Bifidobacterium breve M-16V intake on skin by analyzing facial images, the skin myco/microbiota, and the gut microbiota. Methods: We conducted a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study in Japan. Healthy women aged over 30 years were randomly allocated to either the B. breve (1 × 1010 colony-forming units (CFU)/sachet, two sachets daily) or the placebo group and consumed the corresponding study food for 12 weeks. Facial images were taken at weeks 0, 4, 8, and 12 using VISIA evolution. Stool and skin samples were collected at weeks 0 and 12. The primary outcome was the change in the total VISIA score from baseline. Results: A total of 120 females aged 30–79 years were assigned to the B. breve (n = 59) or placebo (n = 61) group. The total VISIA score worsened in the placebo group at week 8 (p = 0.029) but not in the B. breve group. Compared with that of the placebo group, the VISIA brown spot score of the B. breve group improved at weeks 4 (p = 0.013) and 8 (p = 0.041). The VISIA pore score improved at weeks 4 (p = 0.013), 8 (p = 0.041), and 12 (p = 0.004) within the B. breve group. Genus-level analysis of the gut microbiota revealed a significant increase in Blautia abundance in the B. breve group. The frequency of adverse events was not different between the groups. Conclusions: Oral B. breve M-16V administration may suppress skin deterioration, including the appearance of brown spots, on the faces of adult females. Full article

Immunonutrition, which focuses on specific nutrients in breast milk and post-weaning diets, plays a crucial role in supporting infants’ immune system development. This study explored the impact of maternal supplementation with Bifidobacterium breve M-16V and a combination of short-chain galacto-oligosaccharide (scGOS) and long-chain fructo-oligosaccharide (lcFOS) from pregnancy through lactation, extending into the early childhood of the offspring. The synbiotic supplementation’s effects were examined at both mucosal and systemic levels. While the supplementation did not influence their overall growth, water intake, or food consumption, a trophic effect was observed in the small intestine, enhancing its weight, length, width, and microscopic structures. A gene expression analysis indicated a reduction in FcRn and Blimp1 and an increase in Zo1 and Tlr9, suggesting enhanced maturation and barrier function. Intestinal immunoglobulin (Ig) A levels remained unaffected, while cecal IgA levels decreased. The synbiotic supplementation led to an increased abundance of total bacteria and Ig-coated bacteria in the cecum. The abundance of Bifidobacterium increased in both the intestine and cecum. Short-chain fatty acid production decreased in the intestine but increased in the cecum due to the synbiotic supplementation. Systemically, the Ig profiles remained unaffected. In conclusion, maternal synbiotic supplementation during gestation, lactation, and early life is established as a new strategy to improve the maturation and functionality of the gastrointestinal barrier. Additionally, it participates in the microbiota colonization of the gut, leading to a healthier composition. Full article

Immune system development during gestation and suckling is significantly modulated by maternal environmental and dietary factors. Breastfeeding is widely recognized as the optimal source of nutrition for infant growth and immune maturation, and its composition can be modulated by the maternal diet. In the present work, we investigated whether oral supplementation with Bifidobacterium breve M-16V and short-chain galacto-oligosaccharide (scGOS) and long-chain fructo-oligosaccharide (lcFOS) to rat dams during gestation and lactation has an impact on the immune system and microbiota composition of the offspring at day 21 of life. On that day, blood, adipose tissue, small intestine (SI), mesenteric lymph nodes (MLN), salivary gland (SG), cecum, and spleen were collected. Synbiotic supplementation did not affect the overall body or organ growth of the pups. The gene expression of Tlr9, Muc2, IgA, and Blimp1 were upregulated in the SI, and the increase in IgA gene expression was further confirmed at the protein level in the gut wash. Synbiotic supplementation also positively impacted the microbiota composition in both the small and large intestines, resulting in higher proportions of Bifidobacterium genus, among others. In addition, there was an increase in butanoic, isobutanoic, and acetic acid concentrations in the cecum but a reduction in the small intestine. At the systemic level, synbiotic supplementation resulted in higher levels of immunoglobulin IgG2c in plasma, SG, and MLN, but it did not modify the main lymphocyte subsets in the spleen and MLN. Overall, synbiotic maternal supplementation is able to positively influence the immune system development and microbiota of the suckling offspring, particularly at the gastrointestinal level. Full article

Bifidobacteria, a major bacterial group, have several beneficial impacts on health, such as enhancing the intestinal flora by limiting the colonization of pathogenic microorganisms and stimulating the immune system. As a result, bifidobacteria have been extensively included in various food products. In this study, Bifidobacterium breve TISTR 2130 was microencapsulated using an emulsion technique with sodium alginate and calcium lactate in green soybean milk as wall materials. This study found that microbeads prepared with 2.0% (w/v) sodium alginate and 2.0% (w/v) calcium lactate had the highest microencapsulation efficiency (MEE) of 99.8% ± 0.07%. In addition, the viability of microencapsulated B. breve TISTR 2130 and free cells was evaluated following a simulated gastrointestinal treatment. Microencapsulated B. breve TISTR 2130 showed higher cell viability than free cells under the simulated gastrointestinal conditions. The viability reduction of free cells dropped substantially to zero after 1 h of incubation in simulated gastrointestinal juice (SIJ), while the viable cell count of microencapsulated B. breve TISTR 2130 remained greater than 5 log CFU/mL and the survival rate was greater than 64% at the end of the sequential digestion. During refrigerated storage of green soybean yogurt (GSY) fortified with microencapsulated B. breve, the viability of B. breve TISTR 2130, syneresis, and acidity decreased, while the pH and viscosity increased. Microencapsulated B. breve TISTR 2130 has the potential to be used as a probiotic fortification in GSY since the viability remained above the recommended minimal limit of 6 log CFU/mL for 10 days during refrigerated storage. The present study demonstrated that the optimized microencapsulated B. breve TISTR 2130 sodium alginate matrix could survive the human gastrointestinal tract to provide health benefits and the possibility of incorporation into functional foods. Full article

Approximately 10 Bifidobacterium species are known to inhabit the human intestinal tract. Bifidobacteria have been reported to possess a variety of probiotic benefits. However, when bifidobacteria are consumed internally as probiotics, the bacteria are killed by gastric acid. Therefore, we developed acid-resistant microcapsules containing Bifidobacterium breve M-16V and B. longum BB536, which are unaffected by gastric acid, and evaluated whether the microcapsule formulation increased the amount of bifidobacteria in the stool after administration compared with the powder formulation. The results revealed no significant difference in the percentage or number of B. longum between before and after administration of the powder or microcapsule formulation in children. By contrast, the bacterial count of B. breve was significantly increased after microcapsule formulation administration (1.5 × 10⁵ copies/g after administration versus 2.8 × 10⁴ copies/g before administration, p = 0.013). In addition, the increase in the bacterial count of B. breve in stools after administration of microcapsule formulation was approximately 1000-fold higher than that after powder formulation administration (p = 0.018). In conclusion, the results indicate that the microcapsule formulation is efficiently transferred to the large intestine without the adverse effects of gastric acidity in children. Full article

Cow’s milk protein allergy (CMPA) is common and costly. Clinical trials of infants with CMPA have shown that the use of an amino acid formula containing pre- and probiotics (synbiotics) (AAF-Syn) may lead to significant reductions in infections, medication prescriptions and hospital admissions, compared to AAF without synbiotics. These effects have not yet been confirmed in real-world practice. This retrospective matched cohort study examined clinical and healthcare data from The Health Improvement Network database, from 148 infants with CMPA (54% male, mean age at diagnosis 4.69 months), prescribed either AAF-Syn (probiotic Bifidobacterium breve M16-V and prebiotics, including chicory-derived oligo-fructose and long-chain inulin) or AAF. AAF-Syn was associated with fewer symptoms (−37%, p < 0.001), infections (−35%, p < 0.001), medication prescriptions (−19%, p < 0.001) and healthcare contacts (−18%, p = 0.15) vs. AAF. Infants prescribed AAF-Syn had a significantly higher probability of achieving asymptomatic management without hypoallergenic formula (HAF) (adjusted HR 3.70, 95% CI 1.97–6.95, p < 0.001), with a shorter clinical course of symptoms (median time to asymptomatic management without HAF 1.35 years vs. 1.95 years). AAF-Syn was associated with potential cost-savings of £452.18 per infant over the clinical course of symptoms. These findings may be attributable to the effect of the specific synbiotic on the gut microbiome. Further research is warranted to explore this. This real-world study provides evidence consistent with clinical trials that AAF-Syn may produce clinical and healthcare benefits with potential economic impact. Full article

Food allergy (FA) and, in particular, IgE-mediated cow’s milk allergy is associated with compositional and functional changes of gut microbiota. In this study, we compared the gut microbiota of cow’s milk allergic (CMA) infants with that of cow’s milk sensitized (CMS) infants and Healthy controls. The effect of the intake of a mixture of Bifidobacterium longum subsp. longum BB536, Bifidobacterium breve M-16V and Bifidobacterium longum subsp. infantis M-63 on gut microbiota modulation of CMA infants and probiotic persistence was also investigated. Gut microbiota of CMA infants resulted to be characterized by a dysbiotic status with a prevalence of some bacteria as Haemophilus, Klebsiella, Prevotella, Actinobacillus and Streptococcus. Among the three strains administered, B.longum subsp. infantis colonized the gastrointestinal tract and persisted in the gut microbiota of infants with CMA for 60 days. This colonization was associated with perturbations of the gut microbiota, specifically with the increase of Akkermansia and Ruminococcus. Multi-strain probiotic formulations can be studied for their persistence in the intestine by monitoring specific bacterial probes persistence and exploiting microbiota profiling modulation before the evaluation of their therapeutic effects. Full article

Probiotic supplementation with different lactobacilli and bifidobacterial strains has demonstrated beneficial effects in infectious diarrhea caused by rotavirus (RV) in young children. Preclinical models of RV infection might be a good strategy to screen for the efficacy of new probiotic strains or to test their comparative efficacy. Neonatal Lewis rats were supplemented with Bifidobacterium breve M-16V, Lactobacillus acidophilus NCFM, Lactobacillus helveticus R0052, or Lactobacillus salivarius PS2 from days 2–14 of life. On day five, animals received RV SA-11 orally. Fecal samples were collected daily, weighed, and scored for the calculation of severity and incidence of diarrhea. In addition, fecal pH and fecal viral shedding were measured. Animals were sacrificed at the end of the study and their blood was obtained for the quantification of RV-specific immunoglobulins. RV infection was induced in ~90% of the animals. All probiotics caused a reduction of several clinical variables of severity and incidence of diarrhea, except L. salivarius PS2. L. acidophilus NCFM, B. breve M-16V, and L. helveticus R0052 seemed to be very effective probiotic strains. In addition, all Lactobacillus strains reduced the viral elimination one day post-inoculation. No differences were detected in the specific anti-RV humoral response. The present study highlights the strain-specific effects of probiotics and identifies promising probiotics for use in ameliorating and preventing RV-induced diarrhea in children, for example by including them in infant formulas. Full article

Probiotics intervention has been proposed as a feasible preventative approach against adverse health-related complications in infants. Nevertheless, the umbrella concept of probiotics has led to a massive application of probiotics in a range of products for promoting infant health, for which the strain-specificity, safety and efficacy findings associated with a specific probiotics strain are not clearly defined. Bifidobacterium breve M-16V is a commonly used probiotic strain in infants. M-16V has been demonstrated to offer potential in protecting infants from developing the devastating necrotising enterocolitis (NEC) and allergic diseases. This review comprehends the potential beneficial effects of M-16V on infant health particularly in the prevention and treatment of premature birth complications and immune-mediated disorders in infants. Mechanistic studies supporting the use of M-16V implicated that M-16V is capable of promoting early gut microbial colonisation and may be involved in the regulation of immune balance and inflammatory response to protect high-risk infants from NEC and allergies. Summarised information on M-16V has provided conceptual proof of the use of M-16V as a potential probiotics candidate aimed at promoting infant health, particularly in the vulnerable preterm population. Full article