The Effect of Bifidobacterium on Antibiotics and Its Impact on Infant Intestines

Abstract

This study presents the benefits of Bifidobacterium longum in countering the negative effects of antibiotics, caesarean delivery, and formula feeding on infant gut microbiota. Antibiotics, often used post-caesarean to prevent infections, can impede the development of neonatal microbiota, reducing bacterial diversity and altering gut structure. The microbiota of caesarean-delivered infants exhibits less diversity, a problem that can be mitigated by probiotic supplementation. Breastfeeding, rich in human milk oligosaccharides (HMO), is shown to be critical for early gut flora compared to formula feeding, which lacks these beneficial components and delays microbiota maturation. Bifidobacterium longum, essential for infant gut health, adapts genetically to metabolize HMOs, promoting gut development and microbial cross-feeding, essential for producing health-promoting short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs). It repairs antibiotic-induced intestinal damage and helps maintain a balanced gut microbiota. Additionally, B. longum offers therapeutic potential for treating colitis and functional constipation in infants and may be an effective treatment for inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), fostering immune homeostasis and intestinal health recovery. The probiotic role of B. longum in early life could have lasting health implications.