Bifidus factors

Rats by Crude Concentrates of the Bifidus Factor. Proc. Soc. exp. Biol. Med. 84, 464 (1953). 

Tomarelli et al. (T31) reported that rats grow more rapidly whrai feeding is associated with administration of hog gastric mucin. This effect may be due to its content of Lactobacillus bifidus factor. Findings were similar in children. 

The lactose-containing oligosaccharides of human milk have been investigated recently as a result of their association with the bifidus factor, a growth factor for Laclobacillus bifidus, and reports on their concentration have varied from 0.3% to 0.6%. 

The preponderance of B. bifidum in the faeces of breast-fed infants is due to the presence of stimulatory factors in human milk. The most important of these are N-acetylglucosamine-containing saccharides, referred to as bifidus factor I, which is present at high levels in human milk and colostrum and bovine colostrum but at very low concentrations in the milk of cows, goats and sheep. Human milk also contains several non-dialysable bifidus-promoting factors which are glycoproteins, referred to as bifidus factor II. Many of the glycoproteins have been isolated and characterized (see Fox and Flynn, 1992). 

Bifidobacterium spp. are also stimulated by lactulose, a derivative of lactose (Chapter 2) which is not related to bifidus factors I and II. 

Key Words Bifidobacterium longum bifidus factor Clostridium perfringens lacto-N-biose I lacto-Ai-biose phosphorylase Leloir pathway LNB/GMB pathway milk oligosaccharides. 

The existence of the bifidobacterial LNB/GNB pathway explains how HMOs act as the bifidus factor in human milk. We have already developed an enzymatic method for large-scale LNB production (Figure 8.4) (Nishimoto and Kitaoka 2007b). Since LNB has been hypothesized to be the real bifidus factor in HMOs, it may be applicable as an additive to infant formula to produce bifidus flora in bottle-fed as well as breast-fed infants. 

Gyorgy, R, Rose, C.S., and Springer, G.R 1954. Rnzymatic inactivation of bifidus factor and blood group substances. J. Lab. Clin. Med. 43 543-552. 

Nishimoto, M., and Kitaoka, M. 2007b. Practical preparation of lacto-A-biose 1, a candidate for the bifidus factor in human milk. Biosci. Biotechnol. Biochem. 71 2101-2104. 

Human milk is a true prebiotic, and its neutral oligosaccharides are known as the main bifidus factor [404], which prevents digestive tract infections because it induces and improves the growth of good intestinal flora. The prebiotic concept was developed by Gibson and Roberfroid in 1995 [410]. According to their definition, a prebiotic effect is proven when bifidobacteria, lactobacilli, and other healthy bacteria are specifically stimulated and potentially harmful bacteria are depressed [411]. The concept of using prebiotics in infent formulas is related to three basic assumptions [412] ... 

Lactulose utihzation in infant nutrition is under consideration since it acts as a bifidus factor and prevents obstipation. 

Neuraminic acid has received much attention recently. In its acetylated form, it is a component of membrane-forming glycolipids (cf. Chapt. XI11-4) and of the bifidus factors. The latter are oligosaccharides of human milk, important for the nutrition of infants. 

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