Bifidobacterium animalis is a Gram-positive anaerobic rod-shaped bacterium, which can be found in the large intestines of most mammals, including humans.

Bifidobacterium animalis and Bifidobacterium lactis were previously described as two distinct species. Presently, both are considered B. animalis with the subspecies Bifidobacterium animalis subsp animalis and Bifidobacterium animalis subsp lactis.^[1][2][3]

Both old names B. animalis and B. lactis are still used on product labels, as this species is frequently used as a probiotic. In most cases it is not clear which subspecies is used in the product.

[edit] Trade names

Several companies have attempted to trademark specific subspecies and as a marketing technique, renaming the subspecies with scientific sounding names. Danone (Dannon) have claimed trademark status on the subspecies strain DN 173 010 and markets the organism as Bifidus Digestivum (UK), Bifidus Regularis (US and Mexico), Bifidobacterium Lactis or B.L. Regularis (Canada), DanRegularis (Brazil), Bifidus Actiregularis (Argentina, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Chile, Germany, Italy, Kazakhstan, Netherlands, Portugal, Romania, Russia and Spain), and Bifidus Essensis in the Middle East through Activia from Safi Danone KSA. Scientifically, the correct strain is identified as Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. animalis, strain DN-173 010.

Chr. Hansen A/S from Denmark has a similar claim on a strain of Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis, marketed under the trademark BB-12. It is marketed both as Bifidobacterium animalis and Bifidobacterium lactis, however, the true scientific name of the strain is Bifidobacterium animalis subsp lactis.

[edit] Health benefits

It is worth noting that many scientific studies are funded by companies that produce products which contain the substance being studied, which can lead to doubts about the impartiality of these studies.^[4] The bodies that have funded the research below are not listed.

Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis, strain BB-12:

• Effects of Bifidobacterium animalis Bb12 Supplementation on Intestinal Microbiota of Preterm Infants: a Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled, Randomized Study. J Clin Microbiol. 2006 November; 44(11): 4025–4031.
• Adherence of Probiotic Bacteria to Human Intestinal Mucus in Healthy Infants and during Rotavirus Infection. Clin Diagn Lab Immunol. 2001 March; 8(2): 293–296.
• Innate mechanisms for Bifidobacterium lactis to activate transient pro-inflammatory host responses in intestinal epithelial cells after the colonization of germ-free rats. Immunology. 2005 August; 115(4): 441–450.

Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. animalis, strain DN-173 010:

• A fermented milk with Bifidobacterium probiotic strain DN-173 010 shortened oro-fecal gut transit time in elderly. Microb Ecology Health Dis,2001; 13: 217-222.
• Bifidobacterium animalis, strain DN-173 010 shortens the colonic transit time in healthy women. A double-blind randomised controlled study. Aliment Pharmacol Ther, 2002; 16: 587-593.
• Bouvier M, et al. “Effects of consumption of a milk fermented by the probiotic Bifidobacterium animalis DN-173 010 on colonic transit time in healthy humans. Bioscience and Microflora, 2001; Vol 20(2): 43-48.

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• bifidobacteriumanimalis.com - A deconstruction of the terms Bifidus Actiregularis, Bifidus Regularis, Bifidus Digestivum, L. Casei Immunitas and their variants, as well as the marketing strategy, and information about the potential health benefits of live yogurts.
• Food-Info.net - How to select a probiotic