Bifidobacteria

Bifidobacteria species are probiotics ("good" bacteria) that live in the intestines. They may help with diarrhea, constipation, and other intestinal disorders.

"Good" bacteria such as bifidobacteria can help break down food, absorb nutrients, and fight off "bad" organisms that might cause diseases.

Bifidobacteria are commonly used for diarrhea, constipation, and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). They're also used for preventing the common cold or flu, and lots of other conditions, but there is no good scientific evidence to support many of these uses. There is also no good evidence to support using bifidobacteria for COVID-19.

No data available.

When taken by mouth: Bifidobacteria are likely safe for healthy adults. In some people, treatment with bifidobacteria might upset the stomach and intestine, causing diarrhea, bloating and gas.

Special Precautions & Warnings:

Pregnancy: A specific strain of bifidobacteria, Bifidobacterium bifidum, is possibly safe when taken by mouth appropriately for 6 weeks while pregnant. There isn't enough reliable information about the safety of taking other strains.

Breastfeeding: There isn't enough reliable information to know if bifidobacteria is safe to use when breastfeeding. Stay on the safe side and avoid use.

Children: Bifidobacteria are likely safe for healthy children when taken by mouth appropriately. Although there have been cases of blood infection with bifidobacteria in critically ill infants, these cases are rare.

Weakened immune system: Some probiotics have caused blood infections in a small number of people with weakened immune systems. This includes people with HIV/AIDS or cancer, or people who are taking medications to prevent rejection of a transplanted organ. There is a chance that bifidobacteria might also increase the risk for infection. If you have a weakened immune system, talk with your healthcare provider before taking bifidobacteria.

Blockage in the intestines: Bifidobacteria has caused blood infections in a small number of infants who have had stomach surgery. It is thought that this is because the intestines became blocked, and the bacteria crossed into the blood stream. Bifidobacteria should be used cautiously or avoided in infants with stomach or intestinal blockages.

In adults, bifidobacteria has most often been taken by mouth alone or together with other probiotics, especially lactobacillus, in doses of 3-20 billion colony-forming units (CFUs) daily, for up to 16 weeks. In children, bifidobacteria has most often been taken by mouth alone or together with other probiotics, especially lactobacillus, in doses of 2-10 billion CFUs daily, for up to 12 weeks.

B. Bifidum, B. Breve, B. Infantis, B. lactis, B. Longum, Bifido, Bifido Bacterium Longum, Bifidobacterias, Bifidobactérie, Bifidobactéries, Bifidobacterium, Bifidobacterium adolescentis; Bifidobacterium animalis, Bifidobacterium bifidum; Bifidobacterium breve; Bifidobacterium infantis; Bifidobacterium lactis; Bifidobacterium longum, Bifidum, Bifidus, Bifidus Brevis, Bifidus Infantis, Bifidus Longum, Bifidobacteria Bifidus, Lactobacillus Bifidus, L. Bifidus, Probiotic, Probiotique.

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