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Bifidobacteria constitute a genus (family) of probiotics. Other families of probiotics include lactobacilli and streptococci. The main species (individual types) of bifido in humans are B. longum, B. adolescentis, B. breve, and B. infantis. B. bifidum is of lesser importance than these other species. Also, the term bifidum is often used in a generic sense for all bifido species, as is the name acidophilus for probiotics.
Bifidobacteria have been researched in various areas:
1) Maintenance of normal intestinal flora, especially in infants and seniors
2) Improved lactose intolerance
3) Suppression of undesirable bacteria
4) Reduced production of potentially harmful enzymes produced by putrefactive bacteria
5) Deconjugation of bile acids, inhibiting reabsorption and enhancing their excretion
6) Improved digestion
7) Slight improvement of absorption of minerals
8) Production of short chain fatty acids (SCFAS) which provide energy to intestinal cells
Bifidobacteria vs. Lactobacilli and Streptococci
Lactobacilli and streptococci are two other major probiotic genera found in the small intestine where the oxygen level is unfavorable to bifid6bacteria. In the small intestine, peristalsis (intestinal contractions that push digestion along) sloughs off intestinal cell walls, and enzyme activity leads to a high rate of turnover of the small intestine's flora. This turnover of flora in the small intestines requires continuous replacement. The more stable flora of the lower intestines is homeostatic in nature, so it continuously returns to the original profile of bacterial types. This means that supplemented bifidobacteria that implant do so only temporarily, perhaps for some weeks at a time after at least several days of supplementation.
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