Bifidobacterium breve

Bifidobacterium breve

1. Identity, Taxonomy, and Natural Sources

Taxonomic Classification

Bifidobacterium breve is a bacterial species of the genus Bifidobacterium which has probiotic properties. Its full taxonomic lineage places it within: cellular organisms → Bacteria → Bacillati → Actinomycetota → Actinomycetes → Bifidobacteriales → Bifidobacteriaceae → Bifidobacterium.

The taxonomy of Bifidobacterium has been revised since it was first described; at different times, the organism was assigned to the genera Bacillus, Bacteroides, Nocardia, Lactobacillus, and Corynebacterium. The story of Bifidobacterium is closely tied to the origins of microbiology and probiotic science, beginning in 1899 when French pediatrician Henri Tissier at the Pasteur Institute identified a dominant Y- or V-shaped bacterium in the feces of breast-fed infants, which he named Bacillus bifidus communis. Over the years, the classification of this bacterium proved challenging, as it was variously grouped under names like Bacteroides bifidus and Lactobacillus bifidus before Danish microbiologist Orla-Jensen formally proposed the genus Bifidobacterium in 1924. Bifidobacterium breve was first formally described in 1971 by Reuter, who isolated it from human infant feces.

Morphology and Microbiology

Members of the species Bifidobacterium breve are anaerobic, rod-shaped, gram-positive bacteria that lack cell motility, sporulation, and a cell capsule. Bifidobacteria exhibit a relatively high guanine plus cytosine (G + C) content of 55–67 mol% in the DNA, and form part of the so-called Actinomycetes branch of Eubacteria. It has antimicrobial activity against human pathogens and does not possess transmissible antibiotic resistance traits.

Natural Sources and Ecological Niche

Representatives of Bifidobacterium bifidum, Bifidobacterium breve, and Bifidobacterium longum are typically the first microbial colonizers of the infant gut microbiota. Notably, B. breve strains are frequently isolated from stool samples of healthy breastfed infants and milk samples of breastfeeding mothers, highlighting events of vertical transmission between the mother and her newborn.

Bifidobacteria are a natural component of the normal human gut microflora, comprising up to 25% of the cultivatable fecal bacteria in adults and 80% in infants. As we age, the amount of bifidobacterium, including B. breve, decreases.

In silico analysis of genome sequences from thirteen B. breve strains isolated from different environments shows they originate from infant and adult feces, human milk, and human vagina. In addition to its natural presence in the human gut, Bifidobacterium breve can also be found in various fermented foods, such as yogurt or cheese, though it plays a secondary role in the production of these foods.

Common Commercial Strains

Bifidobacteria have been consumed in fermented foods for decades; currently used commercial strains include Bifidobacterium breve Yakult, Bifidobacterium breve SBT-2928, and Bifidobacterium breve C50. Other heavily researched strains include B. breve M-16V (Morinaga Milk), B. breve MCC1274 (also designated B-3 or A1), B. breve BBG-001, B. breve B-3, and B. breve BBr60.

Common Forms and Preparations

B. breve is available as a dietary supplement in various strengths and dosage forms. Commercial preparations may appear as a white to light brown powder consisting of freeze-dried active B. breve and a carbohydrate filler. It is found in probiotic yogurts, cheese, and fermented milk drinks, as well as in infant formulas; two well-known strains, B. breve C50 and B. breve M-16V, are popular in baby products and dairy foods. These probiotics are often paired with prebiotics such as inulin, FOS, or human milk oligosaccharides (HMOs).

2. Traditional and Historical Use

Bifidobacterial species have been used in fermented dairy products traditionally, and certain strains are "Generally Recognized As Safe," which has promoted the application of bifidobacteria as probiotic agents. The genus was first conceptually linked to human health in 1899, when Henri Tissier observed that the bifidus bacterium was scarce in infants with diarrhea and proposed the groundbreaking idea that restoring gut health could be achieved by administering these beneficial microbes to displace harmful ones — laying the foundation of probiotic therapy.

Because B. breve as a distinct species was only formally described in 1971, it does not possess its own ancient, culture-specific history of deliberate use. Rather, its traditional context is inseparable from the broader history of fermented foods and probiotic bifidobacteria. Although the specific identification of B. breve is a product of 20th-century microbiology, its natural habitats — breast milk, the guts of breastfed infants, and fermented foods — have long been sources of health in traditional cultures, where fermented foods such as yogurt, kefir, and sauerkraut were consumed routinely.

Administration of a live-bacterium preparation of Bifidobacterium breve was historically observed to exhibit a curative effect on refractory pediatric diarrhea, and it was found that administration to adults resulted in reduction of putrefied products in feces and putrefied-product-producing bacteria. An immunoactivating effect of bifidobacteria was also elucidated, and they are considered to contribute to human health through improvement of the intestinal environment.

3. Key Constituents and Mechanisms of Action

The Bifid Shunt and Carbohydrate Metabolism

B. breve helps break down the carbohydrates consumed in the diet, which increases the levels of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) such as lactic acid, acetic acid, and butyric acid. Carbohydrates are fermented through the fructose-6-phosphate phosphoketolase pathways and amino-sugar metabolising pathway, all of which feed into the overall Bifidobacteriaceae-specific metabolic pathway known as the Bifid Shunt.

Human Milk Oligosaccharide (HMO) Metabolism

Genome analysis of infant-associated bifidobacterial species has allowed the identification of the genetic arsenal responsible for HMO metabolism, represented by genes encoding enzymes involved in HMO internalization and hydrolysis — for example, fucosidase, sialidase, β-hexosaminidase, and β-galactosidase, extracellular solute binding proteins, and ABC transporter systems. Human milk represents the optimal diet stimulating the development of the most appropriate microbiota for the newborn, allowing the early and high-abundance colonization of bifidobacteria with consequent production of their main fermentation metabolites acetic and lactic acid, which elicit antagonistic effects toward detrimental microorganisms like Salmonella and Listeria.

Exopolysaccharides (EPS) and Colonization Factors

Bifidobacterium breve UCC2003 produces a cell surface-associated exopolysaccharide (EPS), the biosynthesis of which is directed by either half of a bidirectional gene cluster, leading to production of one of two possible EPSs through alternate transcription caused by promoter reorientation. These genes specify the biosynthetic machinery for sortase-dependent pili and exopolysaccharide production, as well as genes that provide protection against invasion of foreign DNA (CRISPR loci and restriction/modification systems), and genes that encode enzymes responsible for carbohydrate fermentation.

Bifidobacteria possess genetic features that allow the production of various extracellular structures such as pili and exopolysaccharides that favor their interactions with the human host and other gut microorganisms. Although very little is known about the full function of bifidobacterial EPS, it has been suggested to aid in tolerance of the bacterium to bile and acid, and has also been shown to serve as a growth substrate for elements of the gut microbiota.

Intestinal Barrier Integrity

In vivo experiments confirmed that oral administration of B. breve strains significantly increased the expression of mucin, occludin, claudin-1, and ZO-1 — key structural components of tight junctions — while decreasing the levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-6, TNF-α, and IL-1β and increasing IL-10. Both strains of B. breve also inhibited the expression of the NF-κB signaling pathway.

Immune Modulation

Certain B. breve strains repair intestinal damage via multiple mechanisms including repairing intestinal barrier integrity, reducing inflammatory cytokines, and increasing production of short-chain fatty acids. Different studies have highlighted how this species is involved in protection against the development of allergies through its impact on the intestinal epithelial barrier, and in modulating the host's immune system.

Gut–Brain Axis

Emerging evidence suggests that certain B. breve strains may exert protective effects through various mechanisms, including modulation of the gut-brain axis, reduction of neuroinflammation, improving cognitive function, and promotion of neuroprotective compounds in animal models.

Short-Chain Fatty Acids and Metabolic Effects

B. breve intervention significantly increased the levels of SCFAs, reduced the abundance of Proteobacteria and Bacteroidea, and increased the abundance of Muribaculaceae in animal models of colitis. Administration of B. breve strain Yakult improved the intestinal environment through the production of small-chain fatty acids, favoring cross-feeding relationships.

4. Scientific Evidence by Area of Use

4.1 Infant Gut Colonization and Development

A previous study showed the role of B. breve UCC2003 in the proliferative development of the intestinal epithelial cells during early life. The gut microbiota of formula-fed infants contains a lower amount of Bifidobacterium breve than that of breast-fed infants, which could be due to the more acidic pH in the colon of breast-fed infants.

In a randomized controlled trial published in Archives of Disease in Childhood: Fetal and Neonatal Edition, the colonisation with Bifidobacterium breve of the bowels of very low birthweight (VLBW) infants was investigated — adverse effects were examined in 66 VLBW infants, and a prospective randomized clinical study of 91 VLBW infants was also completed and followed for three years. Immunohistochemical staining showed colonisation rates of administered bacteria were 73% at 2 weeks of age but only 12% in the control group. Early administration of B. breve significantly decreased aspirated air volume from the stomach and improved weight gain; B. breve can colonise the immature bowel very effectively and is associated with fewer abnormal abdominal signs and better weight gain in VLBW infants, probably as a result of stabilisation of their intestinal flora and accelerated feeding schedules.

A 2024 systematic review and meta-analysis examined probiotics administered to term infants in 25 studies. The meta-analysis found that early administration of infant-type bifidobacteria probiotics was associated with a significant reduction in eczema (risk ratio = 0.78), representing a 22% statistically significant risk reduction.

4.2 Preterm Infant Care: Necrotising Enterocolitis (NEC) and Sepsis

This is an area of significant clinical interest with mixed results across major trials. Bifidobacterium breve M-16V has been used as a probiotic in preterm infants, and probiotic strain-specific data are essential to guide clinical practice.

A systematic review of RCTs and non-RCTs of B. breve M-16V in preterm infants identified five RCTs (n = 482) and four non-RCTs (n = 2,496). Of the five RCTs, four carried high or unclear risk of bias in many domains. Meta-analysis of RCTs showed no significant benefits on stage ≥2 necrotising enterocolitis, late-onset sepsis, mortality, or postnatal age at full feeds.

The landmark PiPS trial, a double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled trial conducted across 24 hospitals, recruited babies born between 23 and 30 weeks' gestation and randomised within 48 hours of birth. The active intervention consisted of 1 ml of B. breve BBG-001 in one-eighth-strength infant formula (6.7 × 10⁷ to 6.7 × 10⁹ colony-forming units) per dose administered enterally. This is the largest trial to date of a probiotic intervention, and it shows no evidence of benefit and does not support routine use of probiotics for preterm infants.

Despite some promising results in individual studies, many have multiple limitations such as potential bias in non-randomised controlled trials and small sample size, and additional well-designed randomised controlled trials with larger sample sizes are needed to serve as the basis for developing conclusive evidence on B. breve M-16V intervention in vulnerable preterm populations.

Overall evidence strength for NEC prevention in preterm infants: Currently insufficient; major RCTs have not demonstrated significant benefit for the specific strain BBG-001, and the evidence for M-16V is limited by high risk of bias in most trials.

4.3 Atopic Disease and Allergy Prevention

Prenatal and postnatal supplementation with a bifidobacteria mixture (including B. breve M-16V) significantly reduced the risk of developing eczema and atopic dermatitis in infants during the first 18 months of life compared to the control group. A significantly higher proportion of Bacteroidetes was observed in the microbiota of infants receiving the mixture at four months of age; the relative abundance of Proteobacteria was significantly lower in mothers receiving bifidobacteria at delivery. These findings implicate that supplementation with the bifidobacteria mixture during pregnancy may modulate both maternal and neonatal gut microbiota for prevention of allergies in infants later in life.

The meta-analysis showed a 22% statistically significant risk reduction regarding the development of eczema/atopic dermatitis; this aligns with previous studies and meta-analyses evaluating effects of infant probiotics on the development of eczema, with a stronger effect observed for prenatal administration. Despite the established link between atopic dermatitis, food allergy, asthma, and allergic rhinitis — "the atopic march" — this meta-analysis only observed a risk reduction for eczema.

Overall evidence strength for allergy prevention: Preliminary to moderate. The eczema risk reduction signal is consistent across several meta-analyses, particularly for prenatal and early postnatal administration, but effects on other atopic outcomes (asthma, food allergy, rhinitis) are not clearly established.

4.4 Body Composition and Obesity

Bifidobacterium breve B-3 has been shown to exert anti-obesity effects in high-fat diet-induced obese mice, and its anti-obesity effects in healthy pre-obese (25 ≤ BMI < 30) adults were subsequently investigated in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Administration of Bifidobacterium breve B-3 at 20 billion CFU/day for 12 weeks significantly reduced body fat in pre-obese adults without any adverse effects.

A subsequent Korean trial used a different B. breve strain (B-3/MCC1274). This double-blind, randomized clinical trial evaluated the efficacy and safety of Bifidobacterium breve B-3 (BB-3) for reducing body fat, with healthy individuals randomized into the BB-3 or placebo group (1:1). The investigational product contained 1 × 10¹¹ colony-forming units (CFUs) of BB-3 per 1 g of corn starch, and the daily intake in the BB-3 group was 5 billion CFU per capsule per day.

A randomized controlled trial investigating B. breve BBr60 in obesity enrolled 75 individuals with obesity (BMI ≥ 28), who were randomly assigned to either the BBr60 intervention group (10 billion CFU daily) or the placebo group; after a 12-week intervention, 65 participants completed the study, all receiving standardized nutritional counseling targeting approximately 1,800 kcal/day. This study demonstrated effectiveness on BMI, body weight, body fat percentage, and waist-hip ratio after the 12-week intervention; administering Bifidobacterium to individuals with overweight or obesity resulted in significant reductions in body fat mass (p = 0.006), body fat percentage (p = 0.02), waist circumference (p < 0.00001), and visceral fat area (p = 0.003).

Overall evidence strength for body fat reduction: Preliminary but consistent across a small number of RCTs, predominantly studying Japanese and Korean populations with pre-obese or obese BMI. Independent replication in larger, more diverse populations is needed.

4.5 Cognitive Function and Neurological Health

The strain MCC1274 (also called B. breve A1) has been the subject of an emerging research programme focused on cognitive decline. A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial aimed to test the effect of the probiotic strain Bifidobacterium breve A1 (MCC1274) in restoring cognition in a physically healthy, suspected MCI population; 80 healthy older adults suffering from MCI were divided into two even groups to receive once daily either probiotic (B. breve A1, 2 × 10¹⁰ CFU) or placebo for 16 weeks, with cognitive functions assessed by the RBANS and JMCIS tests.

A follow-up 24-week RCT enrolled a larger cohort. In this RCT, 130 patients aged 65 to 88 years old with suspected MCI received once daily either probiotic (B. breve MCC1274, 2 × 10¹⁰ CFU) or placebo for 24 weeks; cognitive functions were assessed by ADAS-Jcog and MMSE tests and participants underwent MRI to determine brain atrophy changes. Analysis was performed on 115 participants (probiotic n = 55, placebo n = 60). The ADAS-Jcog subscale "orientation" was significantly improved compared to placebo at 24 weeks, and MMSE subscales "orientation in time" and "writing" were significantly improved in the lower baseline MMSE (<25) subgroup at 24 weeks.

In animal models, oral supplementation with B. breve MCC1274 has been shown to effectively prevent memory decline in App^NL-G-F mice, and has been found to reduce amyloid-β (Aβ) accumulation and tau phosphorylation in both App^NL-G-F and wild-type mice.

B. breve MCC1274 demonstrates promising potential to enhance cognitive functions, prevent memory decline, reduce amyloid-β accumulation and tau phosphorylation, mitigate microglial activation, and increase synaptic protein levels. However, the existing clinical trials in this area are predominantly from one research group in Japan, with relatively small sample sizes, and independent replication will be critical to confirm these findings.

Overall evidence strength for cognitive function: Preliminary. Clinical results are intriguing but limited in number, geographic diversity, and independence of research group.

4.6 Infant Infections and Anti-Infective Effects

A pilot RCT assessed the safety and anti-infectious effects of Bifidobacterium breve DSM32583, a breast milk isolate, in 3-month-old infants. The safety and anti-infectious effects of B. breve DSM32583 were assessed in 3-month-old infants randomly assigned to either the probiotic (PG) or the control (CG) groups; all infants consumed the same formula, supplemented with the strain at 1 × 10⁷ cfu/g in the probiotic group, and 160 infants (80 per group) finished the intervention. The rates of infections affecting the gastrointestinal and respiratory tracts and antibiotic therapy were significantly lower in the probiotic group; the bifidobacterial population and the level of short-chain fatty acids were higher in the fecal samples of probiotic-group infants; no adverse events related to formula consumption were observed; and in conclusion, the administration of the formula with B. breve DSM32583 was safe and exerted potential beneficial effects on gut health.

Overall evidence strength for infant infection prevention: Preliminary, based on a small pilot trial. Requires larger, adequately powered RCTs.

4.7 Liver Health (Preclinical Evidence)

The effect of Bifidobacterium breve and Bifidobacterium longum on NAFLD pathology was evaluated using multi-omics approaches; human stool analysis was performed in 25 healthy subjects and 32 NAFLD patients, and six-week-old male C57BL/6J mice were fed a Western diet with or without B. breve (10⁹ CFU/g) for 8 weeks. The B. breve group showed improved liver histology and function based on liver/body ratios and NAFLD activity scores compared to the Western diet group. Short-chain fatty acids and tryptophan metabolites were reverted to normal levels by probiotics, and gene expression related to lipid and glucose metabolism as well as the immune response indicated coordinative regulation of β-oxidation, lipogenesis, and systemic inflammation. This evidence is confined to animal models and is not yet established in human clinical trials.

Overall evidence strength for liver health: Preclinical only (animal models). Human evidence is lacking.

4.8 Gut Barrier and Colitis (Preclinical Evidence)

Studies found strain-specific effects — bifidobacteria strains differing in their ability to produce EPS had differences in intestinal flora regulation and intestinal barrier repair; for instance, compared with an EPS deletion mutant of B. breve UCC2003, the EPS-producing parent strain can more effectively change the structure of the intestinal flora and the ratio of short-chain fatty acids. These findings are currently limited to preclinical models.

5. Body Systems and Health Areas

• Gastrointestinal system: This strain is known for its ability to ferment a variety of carbohydrates, break down dietary fiber, and produce short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), which support gut health.
• Immune system: Bifidobacterium breve is important in gut health and immune modulation; it has antimicrobial properties, lacks antibiotic resistance, and is non-cytotoxic, supporting immune function and the intestinal barrier, and showing promise in treating pediatric diseases like diarrhea, colic, celiac disease, obesity, allergies, and infections in preterm infants.
• Neonatal and pediatric health: B. breve shows a stronger affinity for immature bowels than other species, evidencing its capabilities as a probiotic in neonatal contexts.
• Neurological system (gut–brain axis): Recently, the gut-brain axis has received attention as some probiotics have been reported to have a beneficial effect on CNS diseases; the probiotic strain B. breve MCC1274 (synonym B. breve A1) has been shown to improve memory scores in Alzheimer's disease models and in human subjects with self-reported memory complaints.
• Metabolic and body composition: Accumulating evidence suggests a relationship between the gut microbiota and the development of obesity, indicating the potential of probiotics as a therapeutic approach.
• Respiratory and lung health: Research has investigated whether the lung health-improving effects of a synbiotic mixture of B. breve M16-V combined with dietary fibers can be reproduced in humans; it is important to note that this work describes the effect of prophylactic supplements translating to prevention of hyperinflammation rather than management of existing chronic inflammatory disorders. This area remains largely preclinical.

6. Dosage Forms and Dosages Reported in Studies

Because B. breve is a living microorganism, dosing is expressed in colony-forming units (CFU) per day and is highly strain-specific. The following dosages have been reported in published clinical research:

• Pre-obese adults (body fat reduction, strain B-3): 20 billion CFU per day for 12 weeks, which significantly reduced body fat without adverse effects.
• Obese adults (strain BB-3, Korean RCT): The investigational product contained 1 × 10¹¹ CFU of BB-3 per 1 g of corn starch; the daily intake in the BB-3 group was 5 billion CFU per capsule per day.
• Obese adults (strain BBr60): 10 billion CFU daily for 12 weeks.
• Adults with suspected MCI (strain MCC1274/A1): 2 × 10¹⁰ CFU (20 billion CFU) once daily for 16 weeks.
• Older adults with suspected MCI (strain MCC1274, 24-week trial): 2 × 10¹⁰ CFU once daily for 24 weeks.
• Preterm infants (PiPS trial, strain BBG-001): 1 ml of B. breve BBG-001 in one-eighth-strength infant formula delivering 6.7 × 10⁷ to 6.7 × 10⁹ colony-forming units per dose, administered enterally.
• Formula-fed infants (strain DSM32583): The infant formula was supplemented with the strain at 1 × 10⁷ cfu/g of formula.

7. Safety Considerations

Regulatory Status

In Europe, strains of Bifidobacterium belonging to the species breve have been granted Qualified Presumption of Safety (QPS) status by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), which means they are considered safe to use in food and as a dietary supplement. The European Food and Feed Cultures Association (EFFCA) has included Bifidobacterium breve on its list of microorganisms with a documented history of safe use in food. Many Bifidobacterium breve strains, like MCC1274 (also known as B-3), have been given "GRAS" (Generally Recognized As Safe) status by the U.S. FDA.

General Safety Profile

Bifidobacterium strains are considered to be non-pathogenic to humans; the available evidence indicates that Bifidobacterium spp. lack invasive properties — these bacteria will not cross the epithelial boundary of the intestine and reach deep tissue — and they are not mucinolytic. No serious adverse effects were noted in either the probiotic or the placebo group in the B-3 body fat reduction trial. Common side effects reported include gas and an upset stomach.

Risk in Immunocompromised and Vulnerable Populations

Five references in EFSA safety evaluations concerned case reports involving bifidobacteria in patients with immunosuppression and/or underlying disease; two reports described infections with Bifidobacterium breve — a sepsis in a 2-year-old immunocompromised child (with acute leukaemia undergoing chemotherapy) and a 45-year-old patient with a severe underlying disease.

One EFSA assessment found a relevant article describing bacteraemia cases due to Bifidobacterium breve in preterm infants and children with congenital surgical conditions; the authors concluded that the incidence of B. breve bacteraemia was higher than previously reported. Ileus and intestinal mucosal damage can cause B. breve bacteraemia, but it was associated with a good prognosis after treating patients with antibiotics.

Despite these rare case reports, based on the available evidence, the QPS status of Bifidobacterium spp. is not changed by EFSA. The publicly available information lacks the evidence to suggest that consumption of foods containing bifidobacteria increases the risk of opportunistic infection among immunocompromised patients.

Antibiotic Resistance

B. breve does not possess transmissible antibiotic resistance traits, which is a key criterion for probiotic safety assessments conducted by both EFSA and the FDA.

Strain Specificity

It is important to note that safety and efficacy findings are largely strain-specific. Studies found strain-specific effects — bifidobacteria strains differing in their ability to produce EPS had differences in intestinal flora regulation and intestinal barrier repair. Conclusions about one strain cannot automatically be extended to all B. breve strains.

References

• Genomic and ecological approaches to identify the Bifidobacterium breve prototype of the healthy human gut microbiota — PMC
• Bifidobacterium breve — Wikipedia
• GRAS Notice 1002, Bifidobacterium breve strain MCC1274 — U.S. FDA
• Bifidobacterium breve — MicrobeWiki, Kenyon College
• Taxonomy Browser: Bifidobacterium breve — NCBI
• Bifidobacteria and Their Health-Promoting Effects — Microbiology Spectrum (ASM)
• Bifidobacterium-derived short-chain fatty acids and indole compounds attenuate nonalcoholic fatty liver disease by modulating gut-liver axis — PMC
• Bifidobacterium breve Alleviates DSS-Induced Colitis in Mice by Maintaining the Mucosal and Epithelial Barriers and Modulating Gut Microbes — PMC
• Exploring the Science behind Bifidobacterium breve M-16V in Infant Health — PMC
• Bifidobacterium breve BBG-001 in very preterm infants: a randomised controlled phase 3 trial — The Lancet (ScienceDirect)
• Early administration of Bifidobacterium breve to preterm infants: randomised controlled trial — PMC
• A randomised controlled trial of the probiotic Bifidobacterium breve BBG-001 in preterm babies (PiPS trial) — PMC
• Bifidobacterium breve M-16V as a Probiotic for Preterm Infants: A Strain-Specific Systematic Review — PubMed
• Effect of Probiotic Bifidobacterium breve in Improving Cognitive Function and Preventing Brain Atrophy in Older Patients with Suspected MCI: 24-Week RCT — PMC
• Probiotic Bifidobacterium breve in Improving Cognitive Functions of Older Adults with Suspected Mild Cognitive Impairment: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial — PubMed
• Protective Effects of Bifidobacterium breve MCC1274 as a Novel Therapy for Alzheimer's Disease — PMC
• Effects of Bifidobacterium breve B-3 on body fat reductions in pre-obese adults: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial — PMC
• Body Fat Reduction Effect of Bifidobacterium breve B-3: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo Comparative Clinical Trial — PMC
• Gut Microbiome and Metabolome Alterations in Overweight or Obese Adults after Weight-Loss Bifidobacterium breve BBr60 Intervention: A Randomized Controlled Trial — PMC
• Modulation of Serum Metabolic Profiles by Bifidobacterium breve BBr60 in Obesity: A Randomized Controlled Trial — PMC
• Probiotics in Term Infants: Clinical Impact of Infant-Type Bifidobacteria: A Systematic Review and Meta-analyses — ScienceDirect
• Comparative genomics of the Bifidobacterium breve taxon — PMC
• Bifidobacterial surface-exopolysaccharide facilitates commensal-host interaction through immune modulation and pathogen protection — PMC
• Bifidobacterium breve UCC2003 metabolises the human milk oligosaccharides lacto-N-tetraose and lacto-N-neo-tetraose — PMC
• Scientific Opinion on the update of the list of QPS-recommended biological agents — PMC (EFSA)
• Update of the list of QPS recommended microbiological agents notified to EFSA 20 (2024) — EFSA Journal
• Update of the QPS list — EFSA Journal 2023
• Evaluation of Safety and Beneficial Health Effects of the Human-Milk Strain Bifidobacterium breve DSM32583: An Infant Pilot Trial — PMC
• Safety Evaluation of Bifidobacterium breve IDCC4401 Isolated from Infant Feces for Use as a Commercial Probiotic — PMC
• A synbiotic mixture of Bifidobacterium breve M16-V, oligosaccharides and pectin, enhances SCFA production and improves lung health in a preclinical model — Frontiers in Nutrition
• GRAS Notice 950, Bifidobacterium longum subsp. infantis — U.S. FDA (General Bifidobacterium safety discussion)