Review and Perspectives on Bifidobacterium lactis for Infants' and Children's Health.

2023-10-05
Microorganisms 11(10)

PubMed: 37894159
DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms11102501

Study Design

Type: Review
Population: newborns and infants, and infants and children in various indications
Methods: This review summarizes the clinical evidence available in infants and children for the B94 strain of Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis, discussing the safety and potential modes of actions.

The influence of microbiota dysbiosis in early life is increasingly recognized as a risk factor for the development of several chronic diseases later in life, including an increased risk of asthma, eczema, allergies, obesity, and neurodevelopmental disorders. The question whether the potential lifelong consequences of early life dysbiosis could be mitigated by restoring microbiota composition remains unresolved. However, the current evidence base suggests that protecting the normal development of the microbiome during this critical developmental window could represent a valuable public health strategy to curb the incidence of chronic and lifestyle-related diseases. Probiotic Bifidobacteria are likely candidates for this purpose in newborns and infants considering the natural dominance of this genus on microbiota composition in early life. Moreover, the most frequently reported microbiota composition alteration in association with newborn and infant diseases, including necrotizing enterocolitis and diarrhea, is a reduction in Bifidobacteria levels. Several studies have assessed the effects of B. animalis subsp. lactis strains in newborns and infants, but recent expert opinions recommend analyzing their efficacy at the strain-specific level. Hence, using the B94 strain as an example, this review summarizes the clinical evidence available in infants and children in various indications, discussing the safety and potential modes of actions while providing perspectives on the concept of "non-infant-type" probiotics for infants' health.

Research Insights

Supplement	Dose	Health Outcome	Effect Type	Effect Size	Source
Bifidobacterium lactis	—	Improved Infant Health	Beneficial	Small	View source Several studies have assessed the effects of B. animalis subsp. lactis strains in newborns and infants... this review summarizes the clinical evidence available in infants and children in various indications, discussing the safety and potential modes of actions...