Role of Bifidobacteria in Long-Term Health

An exciting area of medical research is focused on the gut microflora (or microbiome) that resides in the human digestive tract.

These trillions of microorganisms help regulate our immunity, endocrine system, digestion, and metabolism.^1-4

Scientists are discovering that the gut microbiome is linked with mood, cardiovascular health, and the ability to fight off disease.^5-8

Research shows how restoring optimum gut-flora balance may help promote long-term health.⁹

The National Institutes of Health launched the Human Microbiome Project to encourage advancement in the knowledge and application of the human microbiome for health and longevity.¹⁰

Among the most important and beneficial bacteria of the gut microbiome are those belonging to the group bifidobacteria.¹¹ Research shows that bifidobacteria have wide-ranging health benefits—they fight allergies, high cholesterol levels, respiratory diseases, stress, and anxiety. In an animal study, they reduced tumor cell growth.¹²

As children, our bodies have an abundance of bifidobacteria. But with age, poor diet, and antibiotic use, levels of bifidobacteria decline.¹²

To promote restoration of healthy bifidobacteria levels, researchers at UCLA School of Medicine studied a unique prebiotic fiber called xylooligosaccharide (XOS), which is made from non-GMO corn cobs.

XOS provides an ideal natural environment for healthy bacteria to thrive in the gastrointestinal tract.¹³

In the studies, researchers found that XOS helped restore intestinal health and increases the presence of bifidobacteria in as little as 14 days.¹⁴ And, it did so without promoting other harmful bacteria.

Given the numerous ways that bifidobacteria work to ensure our health, many people want to boost their healthy gut bacteria flora. XOS is a convenient, novel method.

Boosting Your Bifido

According to research, the proportion of healthy bifidobacteria in the human gut is about 60% in infancy.

By adulthood, bifidobacteria decline to 30%-40%, fall to about 10% in late middle age, and drop to less than 5% by old age.¹²

Less bifido means more room for unhealthy, dangerous bacteria to take over.

Like everything in our body, bifidobacteria need the right type of nourishment to grow and multiply. Keeping your bifidobacteria well fed ensures their presence as health-promoting residents of your digestive tract.

Many Americans’ diets are notoriously deficient in dietary fiber. And, while bifidobacteria’s number-one food source is dietary fiber, studies have revealed that they particularly thrive on a prebiotic called xylooligosaccharide (XOS). This prebiotic was effective even when taken in relatively small amounts.¹⁵

Exciting human clinical trials demonstrate that this targeted prebiotic formulation dramatically boosts bifidobacteria in the digestive tract.^13,14

The Search for a Targeted Prebiotic

The term prebiotic might be new to some people, but prebiotics have been around for years.¹⁶ They are better known as soluble fiber.

Unfortunately, to achieve a significant increase in bifidobacteria, one would have to ingest a high dose of soluble fiber. An enormous 10 grams to 20 grams of FOS (fructooligosaccharides)—a type of soluble fiber—were required in one study to achieve a significant increase in bifidobacteria. This can be problematic because such high doses of fiber supplements can cause excessive flatulence, bloating, and intestinal cramps.¹³

That’s why researchers have been searching for a prebiotic with targeted bifidogenic effects—meaning one that promotes the growth of bifidobacteria. That search has led researchers to the special prebiotic xylooligosaccharide, or XOS, derived from non-GMO corn cob.

Recent human studies have shown that XOS helps safely and significantly boost levels of beneficial bifidobacteria.^13,14

XOS Increases Bifidobacteria

The most compelling of the new studies on XOS boosting bifidobacteria count were conducted by microbiologists and clinical researchers affiliated with UCLA School of Medicine.¹³

In a rigorous double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled study, 32 healthy subjects received either a placebo, 1.4 grams of XOS, or 2.8 grams of XOS every day for eight weeks.

The preparation contained 70% XOS, so that the total amount of XOS ingested in the two study groups was 1 gram or 2 grams, respectively.

The big question: Would it be possible for such extremely low doses of XOS to significantly improve bifidobacteria levels?

The answer was a definite yes.

Bifidobacteria counts rose significantly in both XOS groups compared with placebo recipients. And the higher-dose group (2 grams/day) showed significantly larger increases in healthy bifidobacteria levels than the lower-dose group (1 gram/day).

The XOS groups did not experience any major increases in other non-bifidobacteria microbes, including the growth of more harmful bacteria. The XOS fiber only promoted the growth of beneficial bifidobacteria.

This is significant because some fiber supplements can produce increases in both good and bad microorganisms, which can essentially cancel out the benefits of increasing bifidobacteria levels.¹³

No significant side effects occurred in any of the three study groups at either the 1-gram or 2-gram dose.

A Healthier Gut in Just Two Weeks

The previous study showed that XOS increases the numbers of beneficial bifidobacteria. The next study showed that XOS increased beneficial bifidobacteria in record time. The researchers used the same XOS preparation and doses as the previous study, but without a control group.¹⁴

The lower-dose (1-gram) group saw significant increases in bifidobacteria counts in 28 days. But the higher-dose (2-gram) group achieved significant increases in bifidobacteria in just 14 days.

Keep in mind that these studies used doses of XOS far below the 10 grams-20 grams/day required to achieve similar results with other prebiotics made from fiber.

Broad-Spectrum Benefits

But that’s just half of the story. This study went on to show that taking XOS resulted in numerous clinical improvements throughout the body.

For example, taking XOS led to a significant increase in fecal acidity. This is a beneficial effect that may help to ward off less desirable organisms,¹⁷ while promoting the growth of healthy bacteria. This benefit has been reported previously with XOS supplementation in humans.¹⁸

In another benefit that has implications for heart health, scientists found increases in fecal levels of triglycerides and cholesterol—indicating that the XOS removed excess cholesterol and triglycerides from the body.¹⁴ These changes were echoed by significant reductions in serum triglyceride and cholesterol levels, along with significant drops in blood-sugar levels.

An imbalanced microbiome is associated with metabolic syndrome.¹⁹ This study shows us that by restoring healthy levels of bifidobacteria, XOS may help reduce several common metabolic health risks.¹⁴

These benefits are further testament to the system-wide impact of boosting the bifidobacteria content in the digestive tract.¹⁴

The Importance of Healthy Bacteria

It is still under investigation as to why bifidobacteria respond so positively to supplementation with XOS at low doses that don’t cause side effects.

Studies show that bifidobacteria utilize precisely the kinds of carbohydrates that humans can’t digest. This is especially true of the so-called oligosaccharides, of which XOS is one important example.²⁰ Genetic analysis of bifidobacteria suggests they are well-equipped to carry out that digestion, which not only feeds the bifidobacteria, but also produces useful molecules called bacteriocins that help suppress growth of the less-desirable bacteria.^12,20

Together, these findings highlight the importance of feeding these essential bacteria to keep them healthy so they can keep us healthy.

Summary

Microorganisms that reside in the human digestive tract, also called the gut microbiome, are a critical factor in sustaining our resistance to disease and promoting vigor and good health.

Many people realize the importance of taking a probiotic to help increase the numbers of beneficial bacteria.

One prebiotic, xylooligosaccharides, or XOS, has now been shown in human clinical trials to selectively boost bifidobacteria populations in the gut in low doses!

These studies demonstrate systemic benefits when increasing bifidobacteria organisms in the digestive tract.

XOS boosted the numbers of health-promoting bifidobacteria, while lowering serum cholesterol, triglycerides and glucose.

If you have any questions on the scientific content of this article, please call a Life Extension® Wellness Specialist at 1-866-864-3027.

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