Hi,
You ask a lot of questions, which altogether require a large pile of
papers. But I'll try to answer some of your questions:
1. What is the antibiotic that Bifidobacteria produces? Is it
effective?
Lactate and acetate. It is very effective at low pH (<5.5). There are
some reports on other antibiotic-like substances (by Gibson and Wang),
but so far no one has been able to reproduce these results with the
same strains (four papers + own results + results from several
companies)
2. Why are older aged people more vulnerable to E.coli poisoning?
I don't know much about that, sorry.
3. Does decreased Bifidobacteria levels increase the susceptibility of
E.coli poisoning?
I don't think so. E coli poisoning is a small intestine effect,
bifidobacteria don't live in the small intestine. And even more, there
is not such as a decreased bifidobacterial level. There may be
somewhat less bifidobacteria, but even in the lowest recorded numbers
there are still about 100.000.000 or more per gram. It is very
unlikely that you will ever receive that amount of E.coli !
You may better have a look at lactobacilli in the small intestine. A
decrease in those will more likely have an effect on E. coli.
4. Can oral forms of Bifidobacteria be consumed? How? Is it effective?
Yes, there are plenty of products available which contain live
bifidobacteria. Whether they survive the stomach and bile is something
else. Most often the pure strains do, but they are much more
susceptible as dried powders or in yogurts. It may, like all
probiotics, be effective in the small intestine. But I would recommend
lactobacilli.
5.Does fructooligosaccharides (FOS) promote Bifidobacteria growth?
Does FOS
have any other effects on the human body?
FOS are fermented by a large number of bacterial species, among those
bifidobacteria, but also E. coli, some clostrida, most lactobacilli,
practically all bacteroides, several cocci etc. This does not mean
that that would be an unwanted effect. Some studies, using rabbits,
have shown that harmless E.coli present in the rabbit gut are
stimulated and thus form a stronger barrier against foreign E. coli
(competitive exclusion).
The only side effects of FOS are flatulence (due to fermentation by
clostridia and other gas producers) and osmotic laxative effects.
If you want I can give you some specific references on the topics.
Ralf Hartemink
Intestinal microbiology group
Dept Food Science
Wageningen Agricultural University
Wageningen
The Netherlands
ralf.hartemink at algemeen.lenm.wau.nl
>To anyone with information on Bifidobacteria,
>>I am currently writing a paper on the effects of Bifidobacteria on both
>E.coli levels and the effects on human health. If anyone has any
>referenced information (or internet references) on this, as well as as
>the following questions, this would be greatly appreciated. 1. What is
>the antibiotic that Bifidobacteria produces? Is it effective? 2. Why are
>older aged people more vulnerable to E.coli poisoning? 3. Does decreased
>Bifidobacteria levels increase the susceptibility of E.coli poisoning? 4.
>Can oral forms of Bifidobacteria be consumed? How? Is it effective? 5.
>Does fructooligosaccharides (FOS) promote Bifidobacteria growth? Does FOS
>have any other effects on the human body?
>>Any prompt reply would be appreciated.
>>Matthew
>soulmate at picknowl.com.au>>-------------------==== Posted via Deja News ====-----------------------
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