We could talk about the different kinds of probiotics for hours, so spending time on one particular strain—Bifidobacterium lactis also known as B. lactis—feels almost like a luxury. Why is this strain so significant? Well, it’s a superstar for gut health. For starters, a study from 2015 showed that a fermented milk containing 1B. lactis1 may improve gastrointestinal symptoms and well-being1, and it was suspected that this was true because of changes it created in gut motility and hypersensitivity. Another study demonstrated that when people took a particular strain of B. lactis, called BB-12, in conjunction with Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG, they had decreased amounts of dental plaque and reduced inflammation in the mouth2,* which has led us to an increased understanding of how oral health is tied to gut health and why having a healthy oral microbiome is important. A particular strain of B. lactis, known as HN019, has been shown to have a significant impact on those with metabolic syndrome4. This probiotic had beneficial effects on inflammation, nitric oxide metabolites, and antioxidant measurements, and the authors of the study stated that if their results are confirmed, supplementation with this probiotic should be considered further. It’s fascinating how adding a particular probiotic strain to your lifestyle routine can create such improvement in one’s health. It goes to show you how even a slight imbalance between the good bugs and bad bugs in your gut can cause and contribute to so many different medical conditions and symptoms. Did you know that at least 70 percent of our immune system is in the gut? It’s true. And we doctors feel that one of the biggest influencers in immune function is the gut microbiome. The studies I have shared and numerous other studies that have been published clearly outline that inflammation and immune reactivity can be related to the composition of the gut microbiome This is one of the reasons it’s important to try to cultivate a resilient gut microbiome. A healthy gut leads to a healthy immune system! A recent study that demonstrates this nicely showed that a probiotic formulation that contained B. lactis6—in addition to a few other strains of bacteria—significantly reduced inflammation in the body6, and that manipulating the gut microbiome can certainly play a role in improving one’s health and immune reactivity. B. lactis BB-12 is one of the most studied probiotics. There are hundreds of publications on this probiotic and how it has numerous health effects, such as fighting off bad bugs, making the gut lining stronger, and improving the immune system. It supports a healthy gut microbiome and can improve bowel function and antibiotic-associated side effects.* This is definitely one helpful, hardworking bacteria! It’s still of the utmost importance to eat the right foods and avoid highly processed and packaged foods. Eat the rainbow, making sure you include plenty of colorful fruits and vegetables in your diet. Avoid toxins that can damage the gut and harm the good bacteria. Make sure you exercise and keep those good bacteria happy. Reducing stress, sleeping well, and having fun and enjoying life are also key ingredients for keeping a healthy gut microbiome. If we create an environment where these good bacteria can flourish, the health benefits are more likely to be consistent and remain. So, just remember: If you want to take some B. lactis as a probiotic, make sure that the home you put it in is a happy home and one in which it can grow and help you out to the best of its abilities. Singh is currently the Director of Integrative Gastroenterology at the Susan Samueli Integrative Health Institute at UC Irvine. He is also currently a voluntary Assistant Clinical Professor at UCSD in the Department of Family Medicine and Public Health; prior to this, he has been a Clinical Assistant Professor at UCLA and an Assistant Professor of Medicine at Johns Hopkins University. Singh is a member of the American Academy of Anti-Aging Medicine, American College of Lifestyle Medicine, and many other societies. He is actively involved in the American Gastroenterological Association. He is one of the editors of the textbook of Integrative Gastroenterology, 2nd edition (a Weil Series text) and has written several book chapters and articles. He is dedicated to guiding his clients toward optimal wellness every step of the way, using the most cutting edge technologies to design highly personalized precision based protocols. Towards this end, he founded Precisione Clinic and wrote the book Rescue Your Health to bring the best in preventive medicine to his clients.
