Evaluation of Safety and Beneficial Health Effects of the Human-Milk Strain <i>Bifidobacterium breve</i> DSM32583: An Infant Pilot Trial

Abstract

Human milk promotes the growth of bifidobacteria in the infant gut. Adding bifidobacterial species to infant formula may contribute to increasing their presence in the gut of formula-fed infants. Therefore, the safety and anti-infectious effects of Bifidobacterium breve DSM32583, a breast milk isolate, were assessed in a pilot trial involving 3-month-old infants. The infants were randomly assigned to either the probiotic (PG) or the control (CG) groups. All the infants consumed the same formula, although it was supplemented with the strain (1 × 107 cfu/g of formula) in the PG. Overall, 160 infants (80 per group) finished the intervention. Infants in CG gained more weight compared to PG (p p B. breve DSM32583 was safe and exerted potential beneficial effects on gut health.

Keywords

• <i>Bifidobacterium breve</i>
• probiotics
• infant formula
• safety
• bifidobacteria
• short-chain fatty acids