Synopsis

Source of validity: Scientific
Rating (out of 5): 3

Bifidobacteria, a genus of probiotic bacteria, have been studied for their potential to reduce side effects associated with chemotherapy, particularly gastrointestinal symptoms such as diarrhea and mucositis. Scientific evidence supporting their use comes from several randomized controlled trials and meta-analyses. In these studies, supplementation with Bifidobacteria (often as part of multi-strain probiotic formulations) has shown promise in reducing the incidence and severity of chemotherapy-induced diarrhea and intestinal inflammation in cancer patients, especially those undergoing colorectal cancer treatment.

The mechanism is thought to involve the restoration and maintenance of gut microbiota balance, strengthening of the intestinal barrier, and modulation of immune responses, which are often disrupted during chemotherapy. For example, a 2018 meta-analysis (Wang et al., Supportive Care in Cancer) found that probiotics, including Bifidobacteria, significantly reduced the risk of diarrhea in patients receiving chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy. However, many clinical studies use mixed probiotics rather than Bifidobacteria alone, making it difficult to attribute the effect solely to this genus. While side effects are generally mild, caution is advised in severely immunocompromised patients.

In summary, there is moderate scientific support for the use of Bifidobacteria-containing probiotics to reduce certain chemotherapy side effects, but further large-scale, high-quality studies isolating Bifidobacteria’s effects are needed to confirm these findings and optimize dosing, strains, and patient selection.

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