Gastroenterology
- Adjunct support during rifampicin treatment, with non-transmissible resistance to rifamycin antibiotics
- Reduces bloating & abdominal pain
- Ameliorates IBS & diverticular disease
- Naturally resistant to gastric acid
- Supports gut health following antibiotic treatments
Bifidobacterium longum W11 (LMG P-21586)
Fructooligosaccharides (FOS)
BIFIFOS® is a probiotic food supplement based on Bifidobacterium longum W11, with its clinical efficacy supported by 7 in vitro and 7 human clinical studies [1-16]. Among the Bifidobacteria, Bifidobacterium longum W11 is particularly notable for its potential in addressing common yet unresolved issues such as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and diverticular disease [2,3].
B. longum W11 exhibits several functional properties:
Resistance to gastric acids and bile salts [11].
Production of exopolysaccharide, crucial for its strong adherence and persistence properties [12,15].
Immunomodulation: W11 induces a Th-1 response, providing robust defense against intracellular pathogens without stimulating pro-inflammatory components [16].
B. longum W11, characterized by its safe, non-transmissible antibiotic-resistance properties, is an ideal adjunct to rifampicins, which are frequently used in treating various intestinal disorders, including IBS, inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), diverticular disease, small intestine bacterial overgrowth (SIBO), H. pylori eradication, and traveler’s diarrhea [4-13]. It has been proven safe and capable of surviving and colonizing the gut during rifampicin treatment, maintaining proper intestinal microflora during and after antibiotic use [13].
In a clinical study, BIFIFOS® demonstrated effectiveness in alleviating functional constipation associated with IBS-C (IBS with constipation as a primary feature), reducing symptoms, and improving intestinal motility by approximately 25%. It also increased the average number of bowel movements per week from 2.9 to 4.1. In cases of moderate to severe IBS, BIFIFOS® significantly reduced symptoms, with a notable decrease in bloating and abdominal pain from 62.9% to 9.6% and from 38.8% to 4.1%, respectively [4].
1. Amenta M. et al. Diet and chronic constipation. Benefits of oral supplementation with symbiotic zir fos (Bifidobacterium longum W11 + FOS Actilight). Acta Biomed 2006; 77(3):157-62.
2. Colecchia A. et al. Effect of a symbiotic preparation on the clinical manifestations of irritable bowel syndrome, constipation-variant. Results of an open, uncontrolled multicenter study. Minerva Gastroenterol Dietol 2006; 52(4):349-58.
3. Fanigliulo L. et al. Role of gut microflora and probiotic effects in the irritable bowel syndrome. Acta Biomed 2006; 77(2):85-9.
4. Sarnelli G. et al. Effects of oral supplementation with the symbiotic (Bifidobacterium longum W11 + FOS Actilight) on IBS with constipation: a randomized, dose finding trial, versus fibers. Digestive and Liver Disease 2008; 40(1):S141.
5. Malaguarnera M. et al. Bifidobacterium longum with fructooligosaccharides (FOS) treatment in minimal hepatic encephalopathy: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study. Dig Dis Sci 2007; 52:3259-3265. Doi: 10.1007/s10620-006-9687-y
6. Dughera L. et al. Effects of symbiotic preparation on constipated irritable bowel syndrome symptoms. Acta Biomed 2007; 78:111-116.
7. Malaguarnera M, et al. Bifidobacterium longum with fructo-oligosaccharides in patients with non alcoholic steatohepatitis. Dig Dis Sci. 2012 Feb;57(2):545-53. doi: 10.1007/s10620-011-1887-4
8. Di Pierro F, et al. Effects of rifaximin-resistant Bifidobacterium longum W11 in subjects with symptomatic uncomplicated diverticular disease treated with rifaximin. Minerva Gastroenterol Dietol. 2019 Dec;65(4):259-264. doi: 10.23736/S1121-421X.19.02622-9
9. Morelli L, et al. Tracking the fate of Bifidobacterium longum W11 strain during a human trial. Istituto di Microbiologia.
10.Medina M, et al. Differential immunomodulatory properties of Bifidobacterium logum strains: relevance to probiotic selection and clinical applications. Clin Exp Immunol. 2007 Dec;150(3):531-8. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2249.2007.03522.x
11. Izquierdo E, et al. Resistance to simulated gastrointestinal conditions and adhesion to mucus as probiotic criteria for Bifidobacterium longum strains. Curr Microbiol. 2008 Jun;56(6):613-8. DOI: 10.1007/s00284-008-9135-7
12. Inturri R, et al. Scanning electron microscopy observation of adhesion properties of Bifidobacterium longum W11 and chromatographic analysis of its exopolysaccaride. Food Nutr Sci. 2014 Sept. 5: 1787e92. Doi: 10.4236/fns.2014.518192
13. Graziano T, et al. The Possible Innovative Use of Bifidobacterium longum W11 in Association With Rifaximin: A New Horizon for Combined Approach? J Clin Gastroenterol. 2016 Nov/Dec;50 Suppl 2, Proceedings from the 8th Probiotics, Prebiotics & New Foods for Microbiota and Human Health meeting held in Rome, Italy on September 13-15, 2015:S153-S156. doi: 10.1097/MCG.0000000000000683
14. Inturri R,et al. Complete Genome Sequence of Bifidobacterium longum W11 (LMG P-21586), Used as a Probiotic Strain. Genome Announc. 2017 Mar 9;5(10):e01659-16. doi: 10.1128/genomeA.01659-16
15. Inturri R, et al. Chemical and biological properties of the novel exopolysaccharide produced by a probiotic strain of Bifidobacterium longum. Carbohydr Polym. 2017 Oct 15;174:1172-1180. doi: 10.1016/j.carbpol.2017.07.039
16. Inturri R, et al. Immunomodulatory Effects of Bifidobacterium longum W11 Produced Exopolysaccharide on Cytokine Production. Curr Pharm Biotechnol. 2017;18(11):883-889. doi: 10.2174/1389201019666171226151551