bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis bb-12

bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis bb-12 is a specific probiotic bacterial strain used as an orally administered live microbial therapeutic or supplement. It is a **microbiome therapy** rather than a conventional small-molecule or biologic drug. Its proposed mechanism is strain-specific modulation of the intestinal microbiota and host mucosal immune responses, with reported effects including support of gut barrier function, alteration of short-chain-fatty-acid related gut physiology, and immunomodulatory activity such as increased IL-10 and TGF-β signaling in ex vivo immune-cell systems. In the provided evidence, BB-12 has been studied in healthy adults, children on antibiotics, critically ill patients at risk for antibiotic-associated diarrhea, obese adults in synbiotic studies of intestinal permeability, infants with eczema or diarrhea, and exploratory ulcerative colitis immunology work. Clinical and translational data in the excerpts suggest mixed efficacy depending on indication: for example, a randomized controlled trial in healthy young adults found no improvement in lipid or lipoprotein endpoints after 4 weeks of BB-12 supplementation, while other studies and registered trials evaluate prevention of antibiotic-associated diarrhea, eczema or atopic dermatitis, and diarrhea. BB-12 is widely known as a commercial probiotic strain and, in the supplied material, is associated with Georgetown University investigator-led development in yogurt-based studies and with Chr. Hansen as the source of BB-12 used in at least one clinical study.

Brand names

BB-12BB12BB 12BB-12®

Other names

bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis bb-12bifidobacterium lactis bb-12B. animalis subsp. lactis BB-12B. lactis BB-12