Bifidobacteria

• What other names is Bifidobacteria known by?
• What is Bifidobacteria?
• How does Bifidobacteria work?
• Are there safety concerns?
• Are there any interactions with medications?
• Dosing considerations for Bifidobacteria

What other names is Bifidobacteria known by?

B. Bifidum, B. Breve, B. Infantis, B. lactis, B. Longum, Bifido, Bifido Bacterium Longum, Bifidobacterium, Bifidobacterium adolescentis; Bifidobacterium animalis, Bifidobacterium bifidum; Bifidobacterium breve; Bifidobacterium infantis; Bifidobacterium lactis; Bifidobacterium longum, Bifidum, Bifidus, Bifidobacteria Bifidus, Lactobacillus Bifidus, L. Bifidus, Probiotics.

What is Bifidobacteria?

Bifidobacteria are a group of bacteria that normally live in the intestines. The bacteria are used as medicine.

Possibly Effective for...

Prevention of a type of colitis caused by bacteria (necrotizing enterocolitis).
• Prevention of diarrhea in infants, when used with another bacterium called Streptococcus thermophilus.
• Prevention of traveler's diarrhea, when used with other bacteria such as Lactobacillus acidophilus, Lactobacillus bulgaricus, or Streptococcus thermophilus.
• Treating a skin condition in infants called atopic eczema.
• Inflammation of the intestines in infants.
• Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).
• Preventing a complication after surgery for ulcerative colitis called pouchitis.
• Reducing side effects of treatment for the ulcer-causing bacterium Helicobacter pylori.
• Ulcerative colitis. Some research suggests that taking a specific combination product containing bifidobacteria, lactobacillus and streptococcus might help induce remission and prevent relapse.

Insufficient Evidence to Rate Effectiveness for...

• Common cold and flu (influenza); diarrhea caused by antibiotics; liver problems; high cholesterol; lactose intolerance; mastitis; mumps; cancer; stomach problems; replacing bacteria removed by diarrhea; chemotherapy; Lyme disease; preventing infections after exposure to radiation, aging, antibiotics, and other causes; and other conditions.

Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database rates effectiveness based on scientific evidence according to the following scale: Effective, Likely Effective, Possibly Effective, Possibly Ineffective, Likely Ineffective, and Insufficient Evidence to Rate (detailed description of each of the ratings).

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