A scientific review of Chr. Hansen’s probiotic strain BB-12 has been published in the peer-reviewed scientific journal "Microorganisms".
The review, which is authored by Chr. Hansen scientists, finds that beneficial health effects of the BB-12 probiotic strain have been demonstrated through extensive clinical research. The BB-12 probiotic strain is said to have been shown to improve bowel function, to have a protective effect against diarrhoea, and to reduce side effects of antibiotic treatment.
The review, entitled "The Science behind the Probiotic Strain Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis BB-12", provides an insight into the characteristics and health benefits of the BB-12 probiotic strain. The paper encompasses key data on the BB-12 probiotic strain ― from taxonomy, strain characteristics and mechanisms, to clinical efficacy ― and it concludes that “BB-12 has well-established probiotic characteristics and proven beneficial health effects within gastrointestinal health and immune function.”
In terms of immune function, clinical studies are said to have shown that the BB-12probiotic strain increases the body’s resistance to common respiratory infections by interacting with the immune system. Furthermore, survival of the BB-12 probiotic strain through the gastrointestinal tract has been demonstrated and the BB-12 probiotic strain has been shown to support a healthy gastrointestinal microbiota.
Chr. Hansen notes that the BB-12 probiotic strain has been described in numerous scientific publications out of which more than 130 are publications of human clinical studies covering a variety of consumer groups from newborn preterm infants to elderly across various health areas. More than 200 publications are available via the Medline/PubMed publication database.
Other main probiotic bifidobacteria strains, according to the company, have fewer than 50 publications on the database. This makes Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis (BB-12) the world’s best documented probiotic Bifidobacterium, said Chr. Hansen
“We expect our customers to warmly welcome the fact that all relevant information about the BB-12 probiotic strain is now compiled in one document”, said Lasse Nagell, vice president, Global Sales & Marketing, Human Health & Nutrition. “A lot of information is available on probiotics today. However the information varies a lot from strain to strain and from supplier to supplier so the reader may be left with a very fragmented picture. The review of the BB-12 probiotic strain is a valuable tool communicating clear facts and data about this specific strain.”
