The gut microbiota is a complex ecosystem composed of hundreds of different bacterial species that altogether play an important role in the physiology of their host. In the past few years the complete genome sequence of a number of bacterial strains isolated from the human gastrointestinal tract has been established including that of Bifidobacterium longum NCC2705 isolated from the feces of a healthy infant. Bifidobacteria are among the first species to colonise the human gastrointestinal tract and as such are believed to play an important role in gut homeostasis and normal development.

Friendly bacteria
There are a number of bacteria that are friendly and helpful to humans. If you wish to know learn about these friendly bacteria, visit the following web pages: acidophilus bacteria, or the web page probiotics. If you wish to buy friendly bacteria, visit Acidophilus page at Physician Formulas or the Probiotic page. By ingesting friendly or good bacteria, it is possible that they could displace the harmful bacteria in the gut.

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Bifidobateria and Probiotics in Health and Disease
Like its better-known cousin acidophilus, the bifidobacteria group (often simply called bifidus) is considered a "probiotic." Bifidobacteria are one of the hundreds of beneficial bacteria that inhabit the body's intestinal tract, and help to fight off infection.
     Probiotic bacteria with bifidobacteria are effective in preventing and reducing the severity of acute diarrhea in children. They are also useful in antibiotic associated diarrhea but not for elimination of Helicobacter pylori. In inflammatory bowel disease, especially ulcerative colitis, probiotics with bifidobacteria offer a safe alternative or addition to current therapy. Bifidobacteria have been used to prevent urogenital tract infection with benefit and, perhaps more intriguingly, to reduce atopy in children. Probiotics do not always work.

Bifidobacteria strains
Despite the generally accepted importance of bifidobacteria as probiotic components of the human intestinal microflora and their use in health promoting foods, there is only limited information about their phylogenetic position, physiology and underlying genetics. In the last few years numerous molecular approaches have emerged for the identification and characterization of bifidobacterial strains.

Bifidobacterium types or strains
Bifidobacterium adolescentis
bifidobacterium bifidum
Bifidobacterium breve
bifidobacterium infantis
bifidobacterium lactis
bifidobacterium longum

Bifidobacterium questions
Q. Are there any interactions with using a bifidobaterium supplement with 5-HTP supplement or lipoic acid?
   A. I don't see any problems using bifidobateria with these supplements.

Health Benefit of Prebiotics for bifidobacteria growth

There is increasing awareness that bacteria in the human gut play an important role in maintaining health, both within the gastrointestinal tract and the rest of the body. One can increase the number of good bacteria in the body in two main ways: By taking probiotic supplements or eating yoghurt which directly supply good bacteria to the colon, or by ingesting prebiotics which help stimulate the growth of good bacteria.
   Prebiotics are food ingredients, mostly complex carbohydrates that are not digested, that stimulate the growth or activity of certain bacteria in the colon. The types of bacteria most often stimulated are bifidobacteria and lactic acid bacteria. These are considered good bacteria and can provide various health benefits.

Benefit of prebiotics
In addition to colon health, prebiotics can improve the immune system and reduce the incidence of certain skin allergies. Adding a prebiotic supplement to your diet will help you have a higher amount of bifidobacteria in your colon. These prebiotics also help you excrete more cholesterol perhaps lowering cholesterol levels in the blood. Human research with prebiotic supplements is just beginning.

Types of Prebiotics

There are various types of prebiotics. Typical sources of prebiotics are unrefined wheat, oat, barley, soybeans, and Jerusalem artichokes (which contain inulin). Other prebiotics include fructo-oligosaccharides used as an artificial or alternative sweetener.

Fructo-oligosaccharide prebiotics
Fructo-oligosaccharides (FOS) are extracted from fruits, grains, vegetables, and herbs such as bananas, barley, wheat, asparagus, garlic, onions, tomatoes, burdock, and chicory root. Fructo-oligosaccharides can also be produced by degradation of inulin. These FOS supplements can help increase bifidobacteria levels in the gut.

Inulin Prebiotic
Inulin fiber is a prebiotic most often obtained from chicory herb. Inulin supplements can help increase bifidobacteria levels in the gut.

Availability of Prebiotics
You can find prebiotics for sale in health food stores or online. These are sold most common either as an inulin supplement or as FOS supplements.

Dosage of Prebiotics
Not enough human studies are available to determine the ideal daily intake or dosage of prebiotics. One option is to take a half teaspoon of inulin powder supplement a few times a week with a meal. Increase your intake of whole grains which will naturally provide your gut with more prebiotics.