title: Short- and long-term dynamics in the intestinal microbiota following ingestion of Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis GCL2505.
abstract: Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis GCL2505 (B. lactis GCL2505) is able to survive passage through the intestines and proliferate. The daily dynamics of the intestinal bifidobacteria following ingestion of probiotics are not yet clear. Moreover, the effects of long-term ingestion of probiotics on the intestinal microbiota have not been well studied. Two experiments were performed in the present study. In Experiment 1, 53 healthy female volunteers received B. lactis GCL2505; B. bifidum GCL2080, which can survive but not proliferate in the intestine; or yogurt fermented with Lactobacillus delbrueckii subsp. bulgaricus and Streptococcus thermophilus for 2 weeks, and the daily dynamics of intestinal bifidobacteria were investigated. The number of fecal bifidobacteria significantly increased on day 1, and this was maintained until day 14 in the B. lactis GCL2505 ingestion group. However, no significant change in the number of fecal bifidobacteria was observed in the other groups throughout the ingestion period. In Experiment 2, 38 constipated volunteers received either B. lactis GCL2505 or a placebo for 8 weeks. Both the number of fecal bifidobacteria and the frequency of defecation significantly increased throughout the ingestion period in the B. lactis GCL2505 ingestion group. These results suggested that the proliferation of ingested bifidobacteria within the intestine contributed to a rapid increase in the amount of intestinal bifidobacteria and subsequent maintenance of these levels. Moreover, B. lactis GCL2505 improved the intestinal microbiota more effectively than non-proliferating bifidobacteria and lactic acid bacteria.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Health Science, Ezaki Glico Co., Ltd., 4-6-5 Utajima, Nishiyodogawa-ku, Osaka 555-8502, Japan ; R&D Division, Glico Dairy Products Co., Ltd., 2-14-1 Musashino, Akishima-shi, Tokyo 196-0021, Japan.
authors.forename: Yoshiyuki
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Tanaka
authors.affiliation: R&D Division, Glico Dairy Products Co., Ltd., 2-14-1 Musashino, Akishima-shi, Tokyo 196-0021, Japan.
authors.forename: Kazuyo
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Takami
authors.affiliation: R&D Division, Glico Dairy Products Co., Ltd., 2-14-1 Musashino, Akishima-shi, Tokyo 196-0021, Japan.
authors.forename: Tomohiko
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Nishijima
authors.affiliation: Institute of Health Science, Ezaki Glico Co., Ltd., 4-6-5 Utajima, Nishiyodogawa-ku, Osaka 555-8502, Japan ; R&D Division, Glico Dairy Products Co., Ltd., 2-14-1 Musashino, Akishima-shi, Tokyo 196-0021, Japan.
authors.forename: Ryo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Aoki
authors.affiliation: Institute of Health Science, Ezaki Glico Co., Ltd., 4-6-5 Utajima, Nishiyodogawa-ku, Osaka 555-8502, Japan ; R&D Division, Glico Dairy Products Co., Ltd., 2-14-1 Musashino, Akishima-shi, Tokyo 196-0021, Japan.
authors.forename: Takashi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Mawatari
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Human Life Science, Fuji Women's University, 4-5 Hanakawaminami, Ishikari-shi, Hokkaido 061-3204, Japan.
authors.forename: Takayuki
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ikeda
keywords: Bifidobacterium; Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis GCL2505; dynamics; intestinal microbiota; probiotics; proliferation