Bifidobacterium
Encyclopedia : B : BI : BIF : Bifidobacterium
Bifidobacterium is a genus of anaerobic bacteria and a form of probiotic that is thought to have health-promoting properties for humans. Bifidobacteria are one of the major strains of bacteria that make up the gut flora, the bacteria that reside in the colon and have health benefits for their hosts. Bifidobacteria are associated with a lower incidence of allergies (Björkstén et al., 2004) and also prevent some forms of tumor growth (Guarner and Malagelada, 2003).
References
- Björkstén B, Sepp E, Julge K, Voor T, and Mikelsaar M. 2001. [Allergy development and the intestinal microflora during the first year of life.] Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, Volume 108, Issue 4, Pages 516-520. Abstract available.
- Guarner F and Malagelada JR. 2003. [Gut flora in health and disease.] The Lancet, Volume 361, Issue 9356, 8 February 2003, Pages 512-519. Abstract available.
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