Bifidobacteria

Bifidobacteria species in the gut vary based on age and diet. The abundance of beneficial bifidobacteria in the gut of an adult is roughly 10%. As we age the number of bifidobacteria decreased but this can be combatted by adding dietary fibers and probiotic products to the diet.

Bifidobacteria have been shown to have beneficial effects:

• They decrease the permeability of the gut and therefore prevent LPS- compounds from entering the body through the gut lining and causing inflammation.

• They produce important vitamin B.

• They stimulate the immune system (messaging from the gut to the entire body)

• Stimulate other useful bacteria (such as faecalibacteria)

• They produce compounds (serotonin) that affect the mood and send messages to the brain (gut-brain axis)

Bifidobacteria utilize the different dietary fibers found in onions and legumes. Bifidobacteria have been shown to utilize ß-glucan (oats), dark chocolate and red berries. In the FODMAP diet the number of oligosaccharides has been limited. This is shown to decrease the number of bifidobacteria in the gut which can be fought with supplementation (fibers or bacterial supplements and milk products).