Bifidobacterium lactis
Research reviewed: Up until 03/2026
Bifidobacterium lactis (Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis) is a dietary supplement with 27 published peer-reviewed studies involving 1,298 participants, researched for Immune Function, Respiratory & Infection Prevention, Digestive Health & Gut Function and 3 more areas.
Evidence at a Glance
Strength is scored by study design, sample size, study type, and outcomes
Immune Function
ModerateRespiratory & Infection Prevention
WeakDigestive Health & Gut Function
WeakMetabolic Health & Body Composition
ModerateClinical trials
ModerateSystematic reviews
WeakResearch Visualised
Visual breakdown of the clinical data.
Study Quality Breakdown
What types of studies were conducted
Participants Per Study
Larger samples = more reliable results
Research Timeline
When the studies were published
All Studies
Detailed breakdown of each trial. Click to expand.
Immune Function
To evaluate whether dietary consumption of B. lactis HN019 enhances natural immune function in healthy elderly subjects.
Study Type
Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial
Purpose
To evaluate whether dietary consumption of B. lactis HN019 enhances natural immune function in healthy elderly subjects.
Dose
1.5 x 10^11 CFU of B. lactis HN019 twice daily in milk
Participants
25 healthy elderly volunteers (median age 69, range 60-83 years)
Duration
6 weeks (immune markers assessed at 0, 3, 6, and 12 weeks)
Results
Probiotic group showed significantly enhanced interferon-alpha production and increased polymorphonuclear cell phagocytic capacity vs controls. Both groups showed improved bactericidal activity.
How They Measured It
Interferon-alpha production, polymorphonuclear cell phagocytic capacity, bactericidal activity
To optimize and define cellular immune responses from dietary consumption of B. lactis HN019.
Study Type
Double-blind, randomized controlled trial (3-stage intervention)
Purpose
To optimize and define cellular immune responses from dietary consumption of B. lactis HN019.
Dose
B. lactis HN019 in low-fat milk formulations
Participants
50 healthy Taiwanese citizens (ages 41-81, median age 60)
Duration
9 weeks (3 weeks baseline, 3 weeks intervention, 3 weeks washout)
Results
B. lactis significantly enhanced phagocytosis activity and tumor-killing activity of natural killer cells. Benefits were greatest with oligosaccharide-enriched milk delivery. Effects partially persisted after discontinuation.
How They Measured It
Phagocytosis activity of polymorphonuclear cells, natural killer cell tumor-killing activity
To evaluate the effect of B. lactis HN019 on cellular immune function in healthy elderly subjects.
Study Type
Systematic review and meta-analysis
Purpose
To evaluate the effect of B. lactis HN019 on cellular immune function in healthy elderly subjects.
Dose
Various (across included studies)
Participants
Meta-analysis of 4 clinical trials in healthy elderly adults
Duration
Various
Results
PMN phagocytic capacity showed highly efficacious enhancement (effect size 0.74, p<0.001). Natural killer cell activity improved moderately (effect size 0.43, p=0.02). Daily B. lactis HN019 enhances NK cell and PMN function in elderly adults.
How They Measured It
PMN phagocytic capacity, natural killer cell activity (pooled effect sizes from 4 trials)
To investigate the effect of B. lactis BB-12 on NK and T-cell function and upper respiratory tract infection outcomes in healthy adults.
Study Type
Randomized, partially blinded, four-period crossover trial
Purpose
To investigate the effect of B. lactis BB-12 on NK and T-cell function and upper respiratory tract infection outcomes in healthy adults.
Dose
B. lactis BB-12 via yogurt smoothies or capsules
Participants
30 healthy adults
Duration
Four 4-week treatment periods
Results
Three treatments elevated IL-2 secretion and NK-cell cytotoxicity, concurrently with fewer days with URTI. Adding BB-12 after fermentation showed no benefit, indicating timing of bacterial addition is critical.
How They Measured It
NK-cell cytotoxicity, T-cell function, IL-2 secretion, self-reported cold/flu outcomes
Respiratory & Infection Prevention
To evaluate the impact of B. lactis BB-12 on reducing risk of acute infectious diseases in early childhood.
Study Type
Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial
Purpose
To evaluate the impact of B. lactis BB-12 on reducing risk of acute infectious diseases in early childhood.
Dose
10^10 CFU/day of BB-12
Participants
109 one-month-old infants (55 probiotic, 54 placebo)
Duration
Until age 2 years
Results
Infants receiving BB-12 experienced significantly fewer respiratory tract infections (87% vs 100%; risk ratio 0.87, p=0.033). No significant differences in gastrointestinal symptoms, ear infections, or fever.
How They Measured It
Incidence of respiratory tract infections, gastrointestinal symptoms, ear infections, fever episodes
To evaluate BB-12 supplementation for prevention of common infections in healthy children attending day care centers.
Study Type
Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial (multicenter)
Purpose
To evaluate BB-12 supplementation for prevention of common infections in healthy children attending day care centers.
Dose
10^9 CFU/day of BB-12
Participants
210 children attending day care centers (106 placebo, 104 intervention)
Duration
3 months
Results
No preventive benefit observed. Both groups had similar infection rates (99 in placebo vs 97 in intervention; IRR 1.0014, p=0.992). BB-12 showed no effect on prevention of GI and respiratory infections in this population.
How They Measured It
Incidence of gastrointestinal and respiratory tract infections
Digestive Health & Gut Function
To evaluate the therapeutic efficacy of BB-12 in infant colic.
Study Type
Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial
Purpose
To evaluate the therapeutic efficacy of BB-12 in infant colic.
Dose
1 x 10^9 CFU/day of BB-12
Participants
80 exclusively breastfed infants with colic (40 per group)
Duration
28 days
Results
80% of BB-12 group vs 32.5% of placebo achieved ≥50% reduction in daily crying duration. Mean crying episodes decreased more in treatment (-4.7 vs -2.3). Increased Bifidobacterium abundance and butyrate. No relapse after stopping.
How They Measured It
Mean daily crying duration (primary: ≥50% reduction), crying episodes, sleeping time, bowel movements, stool consistency
To evaluate 8-week supplementation with B. lactis HN019 on functional constipation.
Study Type
Randomized, triple-blind, placebo-controlled trial
Purpose
To evaluate 8-week supplementation with B. lactis HN019 on functional constipation.
Dose
4.69 x 10^9 CFU/day of B. lactis HN019
Participants
229 adults with functional constipation (117 placebo, 112 HN019); 84.7% female, median age 45
Duration
8 weeks (+ 2-week run-in)
Results
No significant difference between groups in change of weekly CSBMs from baseline. B. lactis HN019 at this dose did not outperform placebo to increase CSBMs, contrary to earlier shorter-duration studies.
How They Measured It
Complete spontaneous bowel movements (CSBMs) per week
To assess the impact of different dose levels of B. lactis HN019 on intestinal microflora of elderly subjects.
Study Type
Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial
Purpose
To assess the impact of different dose levels of B. lactis HN019 on intestinal microflora of elderly subjects.
Dose
Three dose levels: 5 x 10^9, 1.0 x 10^9, or 6.5 x 10^7 CFU/day
Participants
80 elderly volunteers over 60 years (four groups of 20)
Duration
8 weeks (2-week baseline, 4-week intervention, 2-week washout)
Results
All dose levels significantly increased resident bifidobacteria and reduced enterobacteria counts. Even the lowest dose produced meaningful changes. No significant dose-response differences between groups.
How They Measured It
Fecal bifidobacteria counts, enterobacteria counts, intestinal microflora composition
To evaluate whether B. lactis Bb12 enhances intestinal antibody response in formula-fed infants.
Study Type
Randomized, double-blind, controlled trial
Purpose
To evaluate whether B. lactis Bb12 enhances intestinal antibody response in formula-fed infants.
Dose
10^6 CFU Bb12 per gram of formula
Participants
172 six-week-old healthy, full-term infants
Duration
6 weeks
Results
Probiotic-fed infants showed increased fecal secretory IgA. All Bb12-consuming infants had elevated anti-poliovirus-specific IgA. Cesarean-delivered infants showed enhanced anti-rotavirus-specific IgA, suggesting Bb12 can offset immune disadvantages of formula feeding and C-section delivery.
How They Measured It
Fecal secretory IgA, anti-rotavirus and anti-poliovirus specific IgA following immunization
Metabolic Health & Body Composition
To evaluate the effect of B. lactis GCL2505 on visceral fat accumulation in healthy Japanese adults.
Study Type
Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group trial
Purpose
To evaluate the effect of B. lactis GCL2505 on visceral fat accumulation in healthy Japanese adults.
Dose
Fermented milk containing B. lactis GCL2505 daily
Participants
137 healthy Japanese subjects with BMI 23-30 kg/m²
Duration
12 weeks
Results
Visceral fat area was significantly reduced from baseline at 8 and 12 weeks in the GCL2505 group vs placebo. Subcutaneous fat showed no significant change. Fecal bifidobacteria increased in treatment group.
How They Measured It
CT scan measurement of visceral and subcutaneous abdominal fat areas
To evaluate the effects of B. lactis CECT 8145 (live and heat-killed) on anthropometric adiposity biomarkers in abdominally obese subjects.
Study Type
Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial
Purpose
To evaluate the effects of B. lactis CECT 8145 (live and heat-killed) on anthropometric adiposity biomarkers in abdominally obese subjects.
Dose
10^10 CFU/day (live or heat-killed B. lactis CECT 8145) or placebo
Participants
135 abdominally obese individuals
Duration
3 months
Results
Live probiotic decreased waist circumference, waist-to-height ratio, conicity index, and BMI vs baseline. Heat-killed form significantly improved visceral fat area and waist metrics vs placebo. Stronger effects observed in women. Increased gut Akkermansia as a possible mechanism.
How They Measured It
Waist circumference, BMI, visceral fat area, conicity index, HOMA index, blood pressure, gut microbiome
Clinical trials
To investigate the effects of Bifidobacterium lactis in effect of multispecies probiotics on autism symptoms: protocol for a randomized controlled trial (probaut).
Study Type
Clinical trial
Purpose
To investigate the effects of Bifidobacterium lactis in effect of multispecies probiotics on autism symptoms: protocol for a randomized controlled trial (probaut).
Dose
Bifidobacterium lactis (dose not specified)
Participants
Participants not specified
Duration
Duration not specified
Results
n worldwide, negatively impacting the daily functioning and quality of life of patients and their families. New therapeutic approaches for ASD are being investigated. Probiotics have shown promise in modulating gut microbiota and ameliorating ASD symptoms. We aim to evaluate the impact of a 12-week multispecies probiotic supplementation on the severity of core autism symptoms in children with ASD.
How They Measured It
See study for outcome measures
To investigate the effects of Bifidobacterium lactis in effects of supplementation with bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis cect 8145-in live probiotic and heat-treated postbiotic form-on fecal metabolit
Study Type
Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled
Purpose
To investigate the effects of Bifidobacterium lactis in effects of supplementation with bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis cect 8145-in live probiotic and heat-treated postbiotic form-on fecal metabolit
Dose
3 g
Participants
Participants not specified
Duration
Duration not specified
Results
e, CAZy genes between the PRO and POST groups presented similar output when compared to the CON group. There was no treatment by day effect of serum cytokines and chemokines (P > 0.05). Overall, the supplementation of the probiotic and postbiotic was safe and well tolerated during the supplementation period, showing similar physiological responses in this population of adult cats.
How They Measured It
See study for outcome measures
To investigate the effects of Bifidobacterium lactis in efficacy of probiotics in preventing chemotherapy-induced diarrhea in gastrointestinal cancer patients.
Study Type
Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled
Purpose
To investigate the effects of Bifidobacterium lactis in efficacy of probiotics in preventing chemotherapy-induced diarrhea in gastrointestinal cancer patients.
Dose
Bifidobacterium lactis (dose not specified)
Participants
Participants not specified
Duration
Duration not specified
Results
n lead to significant health complications, including dehydration, electrolyte imbalances, and treatment interruptions. Recent studies have shown that the gut microbiome plays an important role in the development and severity of chemotherapy-induced diarrhea. Modulating the gut microbiome with probiotics has emerged as a potential strategy for preventing and managing chemotherapy-induced diarrhea.
How They Measured It
See study for outcome measures
To investigate the effects of Bifidobacterium lactis in effects of exercise with probiotics, exercise alone, and probiotics alone on physical, motor, affective, and cognitive functions in stroke patients: a
Study Type
Clinical study
Purpose
To investigate the effects of Bifidobacterium lactis in effects of exercise with probiotics, exercise alone, and probiotics alone on physical, motor, affective, and cognitive functions in stroke patients: a
Dose
Bifidobacterium lactis (dose not specified)
Participants
Participants not specified
Duration
Duration not specified
Results
Physical and neuropsychiatric disturbances often persist after stroke, necessitating innovative rehabilitation strategies. Combining exercise with probiotics may synergistically enhance recovery by leveraging neuroplasticity and modulation of the gut-brain axis. This study evaluated the individual and combined effects of exercise and probiotics in stroke patients.
How They Measured It
See study for outcome measures
To investigate the effects of Bifidobacterium lactis in probiotic blend of lactobacillus acidophilus la-5 and bifidobacterium animalis ssp. lactis bb-12 in non-constipated irritable bowel syndrome: a double
Study Type
Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled
Purpose
To investigate the effects of Bifidobacterium lactis in probiotic blend of lactobacillus acidophilus la-5 and bifidobacterium animalis ssp. lactis bb-12 in non-constipated irritable bowel syndrome: a double
Dose
Bifidobacterium lactis (dose not specified)
Participants
Participants not specified
Duration
Duration not specified
Results
As dysregulated gut microbiota is known in irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and probiotics may improve it, we investigated the efficacy and safety of a combination probiotic, Lactobacillus acidophilus LA-5 and Bifidobacterium animalis ssp. lactis BB-12 in non-constipated IBS.
How They Measured It
See study for outcome measures
To investigate the effects of Bifidobacterium lactis in 12-week preoperative probiotic supplementation versus placebo: effects on inflammation, endotoxemia, adipokines, and gastrointestinal peptides in pati
Study Type
Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled
Purpose
To investigate the effects of Bifidobacterium lactis in 12-week preoperative probiotic supplementation versus placebo: effects on inflammation, endotoxemia, adipokines, and gastrointestinal peptides in pati
Dose
Bifidobacterium lactis (dose not specified)
Participants
Participants not specified
Duration
Duration not specified
Results
Disruption in gut microbiota has been identified as a contributor to obesity-related inflammation and metabolic disorders. This study investigates the effects of preoperative probiotic supplementation on inflammation, endotoxemia, adipokines, and gastrointestinal peptides after bariatric surgery.
How They Measured It
See study for outcome measures
To investigate the effects of Bifidobacterium lactis in bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis probio-m8 enhances chondroitin efficacy for knee osteoarthritis in postmenopausal women via the gut-joint axis.
Study Type
Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled
Purpose
To investigate the effects of Bifidobacterium lactis in bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis probio-m8 enhances chondroitin efficacy for knee osteoarthritis in postmenopausal women via the gut-joint axis.
Dose
Bifidobacterium lactis (dose not specified)
Participants
37 participants
Duration
Duration not specified
Results
lt; 0.05). Metabolite analysis revealed post-interventional alternations in fecal prostaglandin E2, stearic acid, cholic acid, chenodeoxycholic acid, xanthine, testosterone, and serum bile acids ( P < 0.05). Collectively, Probio-M8 enhances the effectiveness of chondroitin sulfate in KOA management through modulating the gut-joint axis, potentially via regulating multiple inflammatory pathways.
How They Measured It
See study for outcome measures
To investigate the effects of Bifidobacterium lactis in bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis tistr 2591 improves glycemic control and immune response in adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus: a randomized,
Study Type
Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled
Purpose
To investigate the effects of Bifidobacterium lactis in bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis tistr 2591 improves glycemic control and immune response in adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus: a randomized,
Dose
9 CFU
Participants
Participants not specified
Duration
6 weeks
Results
: BA-2591 was safe and demonstrated modest, adjunctive benefits for fasting glycemia and immunologic profiles over 6 weeks, without changes in body weight or fat mass. These findings support BA-2591 as a potential adjunct to standard care in early T2DM; larger and longer-duration trials are needed to define its effects on longer-term outcomes.
How They Measured It
See study for outcome measures
To investigate the effects of Bifidobacterium lactis in probiotics to reduce ventilator-associated pneumonia in adults with acute non‑anoxic brain injury: study protocol for a double-blind multicenter rando
Study Type
Clinical trial
Purpose
To investigate the effects of Bifidobacterium lactis in probiotics to reduce ventilator-associated pneumonia in adults with acute non‑anoxic brain injury: study protocol for a double-blind multicenter rando
Dose
Bifidobacterium lactis (dose not specified)
Participants
Participants not specified
Duration
Duration not specified
Results
a promising adjunctive approach; the benefits of probiotic therapy may be more pronounced in critically ill patients without pre-existing infections. The PROACT study will evaluate the prophylactic role of probiotics in a critically ill population with acute brain injury to reduce the VAP incidence, while also exploring microbiological endpoints and mortality to refine patient selection criteria.
How They Measured It
See study for outcome measures
Systematic reviews
To investigate the effects of Bifidobacterium lactis in probiotics for management of functional abdominal pain disorders in children.
Study Type
Systematic review and meta-analysis
Purpose
To investigate the effects of Bifidobacterium lactis in probiotics for management of functional abdominal pain disorders in children.
Dose
Bifidobacterium lactis (dose not specified)
Participants
Participants not specified
Duration
Duration not specified
Results
ng in the abdomen that cannot be fully explained by another medical condition and is common in children. It has been hypothesised that the use of micro-organisms, such as probiotics and synbiotics (a mixture of probiotics and prebiotics), might change the composition of bacterial colonies in the bowel and reduce inflammation, as well as promote normal gut physiology and reduce functional symptoms.
How They Measured It
See study for outcome measures
To investigate the effects of Bifidobacterium lactis in comparative effectiveness of oral nutritional supplements in preventing respiratory tract infections among adults: a systematic review and network met
Study Type
Systematic review and meta-analysis
Purpose
To investigate the effects of Bifidobacterium lactis in comparative effectiveness of oral nutritional supplements in preventing respiratory tract infections among adults: a systematic review and network met
Dose
Bifidobacterium lactis (dose not specified)
Participants
Participants not specified
Duration
Duration not specified
Results
Different nutritional supplements may prevent respiratory tract infections (RTIs) in adults, but their comparative effectiveness remains unclear. We aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of oral nutritional supplements in preventing RTIs and reducing their symptom duration and severity.
How They Measured It
See study for outcome measures
To investigate the effects of Bifidobacterium lactis in probiotics for infantile colic: is there evidence beyond doubt? a meta-analysis and systematic review.
Study Type
Systematic review and meta-analysis
Purpose
To investigate the effects of Bifidobacterium lactis in probiotics for infantile colic: is there evidence beyond doubt? a meta-analysis and systematic review.
Dose
Bifidobacterium lactis (dose not specified)
Participants
Participants not specified
Duration
Duration not specified
Results
This study is a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials that employed probiotics and symbiotics for treating infantile colic.
How They Measured It
See study for outcome measures
To investigate the effects of Bifidobacterium lactis in evaluating the efficacy of probiotics in ibs treatment using a systematic review of clinical trials and multi-criteria decision analysis.
Study Type
Systematic review
Purpose
To investigate the effects of Bifidobacterium lactis in evaluating the efficacy of probiotics in ibs treatment using a systematic review of clinical trials and multi-criteria decision analysis.
Dose
Bifidobacterium lactis (dose not specified)
Participants
Participants not specified
Duration
Duration not specified
Results
acidophilus, and Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis . MCDA analysis showed that formulations based on Lactobacillus rhamnosus and Lactobacillus acidophilus have the highest efficacy, especially on quality of life, bloating, and abdominal pain. This methodological approach could become more specific by modelling clinical studies according to the age and gender of patients and probiotic strain.
How They Measured It
See study for outcome measures
To investigate the effects of Bifidobacterium lactis in safety of one of the most commonly used probiotic strains: systematic review and meta-analysis of reported adverse events.
Study Type
Systematic review and meta-analysis
Purpose
To investigate the effects of Bifidobacterium lactis in safety of one of the most commonly used probiotic strains: systematic review and meta-analysis of reported adverse events.
Dose
Bifidobacterium lactis (dose not specified)
Participants
Participants not specified
Duration
Duration not specified
Results
interval (.94, 1.15). Both meta-analysis approaches showed no difference in the rates of AE for the BB-12 and placebo groups. The data support the safety of wide usage of BB-12. However, half of the RCTs analyzed for the MA did not report AE data. This is a major limitation of published literature. This study has been registered in PROSPERO: https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/view/CRD42023434556.
How They Measured It
See study for outcome measures
To investigate the effects of Bifidobacterium lactis in comparative effectiveness and safety of probiotics with psychotropic potential in mental health benefits in irritable bowel syndrome: a systematic rev
Study Type
Systematic review and meta-analysis
Purpose
To investigate the effects of Bifidobacterium lactis in comparative effectiveness and safety of probiotics with psychotropic potential in mental health benefits in irritable bowel syndrome: a systematic rev
Dose
Bifidobacterium lactis (dose not specified)
Participants
Participants not specified
Duration
Duration not specified
Results
The use of probiotics as a treatment for irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is gaining attention, with recent studies indicating that certain probiotics or combinations may have mental health benefits for patients with IBS.
How They Measured It
See study for outcome measures
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about Bifidobacterium lactis research
There are currently 27 peer-reviewed studies on Bifidobacterium lactis (Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis), involving 1,298 total participants. Research covers Immune Function, Respiratory & Infection Prevention, Digestive Health & Gut Function and 3 more areas. The overall evidence strength is rated as Moderate.
The evidence is currently rated as "Moderate Evidence". This rating is based on study design quality (randomisation, blinding, placebo controls), sample sizes, study types (20 human studies), and reported outcomes.
Bifidobacterium lactis has been researched for: Immune Function, Respiratory & Infection Prevention, Digestive Health & Gut Function, Metabolic Health & Body Composition, Clinical trials, Systematic reviews. Each area has its own body of evidence which you can explore in the study breakdowns above.
Yes, 20 out of 27 studies are human trials. Human trials carry more weight in our evidence scoring system.
Similar Supplements
Other supplements researched for similar health goals
