Skip to main content
Supplement Research and Comparison WebsiteBest Price Guarantee
Supplement Research and Comparison Website

Abstract

Bifidobacterium longum has been shown to afford protection against colon tumorigenesis. Lactulose, a keto analog of lactose, serves as a substrate for preferential growth of Bifidobacterium. It is not known whether feeding lactulose along with B. longum will have any advantage over feeding of B. longum alone. To test this combination effect, 61 male Fisher 344 weanling rats were divided into four groups of 15 rats each (16 in the control group) and assigned to one of the following four diets for 13 weeks: (i) AIN76A (control, C); (ii) C + 0.5% B. longum (C+Bl, containing 1 x 10(8) viable cells/g feed); (iii) C + 2.5% lactulose (C+L); (iv) C + 0.5% B. longum + 2.5% lactulose (C+Bl+L). All animals received a s.c. injection of azoxymethane at 16 mg/kg body wt at 7 and 8 weeks of age. Colons of 10 rats from each dietary group were analyzed for aberrant crypt foci (ACF), which are preneoplastic markers. Colonic mucosa and livers from five rats were analyzed for glutathione S-transferase (GST, a Phase II enzyme marker). Results indicate that feeding of lactulose and B. longum singly and in combination reduces the number of ACF (P = 0.0001) and the total number of aberrant crypts significantly (P = 0.0005). The total number of ACF in diets C, C+Bl, C+L and C+Bl+L were 187 +/- 9, 143 +/- 9, 145 +/- 11 and 97 +/- 11 respectively. There was no significant difference in weight gain among treatments. Colonic mucosal GST levels were significantly (P = 0.05) higher in the Bl and L groups compared with group C. Initially there was a mild diarrhea in lactulose-fed rats. There was a positive correlation between higher cecal pH and number of ACF. Results of the study indicate that Bifidobacterium and lactulose exert an additive antitumorigenic effect in rat colon.

Research Insights

SupplementHealth OutcomeEffect TypeEffect Size
Bifidobacterium lactis/longumAdditive Antitumorigenic EffectBeneficial
Large
Bifidobacterium lactis/longumIncreased Colonic Mucosal Glutathione S-Transferase LevelsBeneficial
Moderate
Bifidobacterium lactis/longumReduced Aberrant Crypt FociBeneficial
Large
Bifidobacterium longum B1-05Increased Colonic Mucosal Glutathione S-Transferase LevelsBeneficial
Moderate
Bifidobacterium longum B1-05Maintained Normal WeightNeutral
Small
Bifidobacterium longum B1-05Reduced Aberrant Crypt FociBeneficial
Large
Bifidobacterium longum B1-05Reduced Initial Mild DiarrheaHarmful
Small
Bifidobacterium longum BI-05Increased Colonic Mucosal Glutathione S-Transferase LevelsBeneficial
Moderate
Bifidobacterium longum BI-05Reduced Aberrant Crypt FociBeneficial
Large
Bifidobacterium longum BI-05Stable WeightNeutral
Small
Bifidobacterium longum BL03Increased Colonic Mucosal Glutathione S-Transferase LevelsBeneficial
Moderate
Bifidobacterium longum BL03No Significant Difference in Weight GainNeutral
Small
Bifidobacterium longum BL03Reduced Aberrant Crypt FociBeneficial
Large
Bifidobacterium longum MM-2Increased Colonic Mucosal Glutathione S-Transferase LevelsBeneficial
Moderate
Bifidobacterium longum MM-2Reduced Aberrant Crypt FociBeneficial
Large
Bifidobacterium longum Rosell-175Increased Colonic Mucosal Glutathione S-Transferase LevelsBeneficial
Moderate
Bifidobacterium longum Rosell-175Reduced Colonic Aberrant Crypt FociBeneficial
Large
Back to top