Bifidobacteria

The group of bifidobacteria make up a large part of the “good”, beneficial protective cultures in the gastrointestinal tract of breastfed infants. They get their name from their shape: in Latin, “bifidus” means “split” or “fork-shaped”. Bifidobacteria are natural lactic acid cultures, which mainly settle in the large intestine and encourage healthy digestion, as well as strengthening the immune system. There are various types of bifidobacteria, which can be individually different. The prebiotic dietary fibers in breast milk (breast milk oligosaccharides) ensure good growth of bifidobacteria in the child’s intestine. A similar effect is achieved with infant formula, to which galacto-oligosaccharides (GOS) or fructo-oligosaccharides (FOS) are added.