Synopsis

Source of validity: Scientific
Rating (out of 5): 2

Bifidobacterium lactis is a probiotic bacterium commonly found in many probiotic supplements and fermented dairy products. Its use in supporting or treating bacterial infections, especially gastrointestinal infections, is backed by some scientific evidence, although the strength of this evidence is moderate and not universally conclusive. Several studies suggest that B. lactis can help restore and maintain the balance of beneficial gut bacteria, which may be disrupted by pathogenic bacterial infections or antibiotic use. This restoration potentially enhances the gut barrier function and modulates immune responses, reducing the incidence or severity of certain infections, such as acute infectious diarrhea in children and antibiotic-associated diarrhea in adults.

However, most of the evidence comes from small clinical trials or studies using probiotic mixtures rather than B. lactis alone. Meta-analyses indicate a general benefit of probiotics for preventing or reducing the duration of gastrointestinal infections, but the specific contribution of B. lactis is not always clear. There is less evidence to support its use for non-gastrointestinal bacterial infections. Overall, B. lactis is recognized as safe for most populations and may offer modest benefits in supporting recovery from certain bacterial gut infections, but it should not be considered a substitute for standard medical treatments. More large-scale, strain-specific clinical trials are needed to strengthen the scientific basis for its therapeutic use against bacterial infections.

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