Bifidobacterium bifidum are normal residents in the human intestines, and by far the largest residents in terms of colonies. Bifidobacterium bifidum are also sometimes inhabitants of healthy vaginas. Bifidobacterium bifidum greatest populations occur in the colon. Bifidobacterium bifidum also inhabit the lower small intestinal tract. Breast milk typically contains large populations of Bifidobacterium bifidum along with other bifidobacteria. B. bifidum are highly competitive with yeasts such as Candida albicans. As a result, Bifidobacterium bifidum populations may be decimated by large yeast overgrowths. This will also result in a number of endotoxins, including ammonia, being leached out of the colon into the bloodstream. As a result, B. bifidum populations are extremely important to the health of the liver, as has been illustrated in the research. They produce an array of antibiotics such as bifidin and various anti-microbial substances such as formic acid. Bifidobacterium bifidum populations can also be severely damaged by the use of pharmaceutical antibiotics.

The research has shown that under certain conditions, B. bifidum:

v      Reduce liver enzymes

v      Increase cell regeneration in alcohol-induced liver injury

v      Reduce death among very low birth weight infants

v      Stimulate immunity in very low birth weight infants

v      Increase TGF-beta (anti-inflammatory) levels

v      Reduce allergies

v      Stimulate the immune system among HIV-infected children

v      Reduce H. pylori colonization

v      Increase CD8+ T-cells as needed

v      Establish infant microflora

v      Inhibit E. coli

v      Reduce intestinal bacteria infections

v      Reduce acute diarrhea (rotavirus and non-rotavirus)

References and more information are available from Probiotics – Protection Against Infection: Using Nature’s Tiny Warriors to Stem Infection and Fight Disease.