Background The administration of Bifidobacterium infantis M-63 during the early postnatal period enhances the abundance of gut Bifidobacterium, but its potential effects are still unexplored. The present study aimed to evaluate the impact of B. infantis M-63 on immunity, inflammation, gut-derived metabolites, and gut microbiota composition-based enterotypes in healthy infants. Methods Fecal samples were collected from 111 healthy infants randomly administered 1.0 × 109 CFU of B. infantis M-63 or placebo daily from 7 d to 3 months of age. Gut microbial composition characterization using 16S rRNA sequencing and genus-level enterotype clustering was performed. Fecal cytokine, metabolite, short-chain fatty acid, calprotectin, and secretory immunoglobulin A (sIgA) levels were measured. Results Administering Bifidobacterium infantis M-63 significantly increased gut Bifidobacterium, whereas Enterobacteriaceae abundance and proinflammatory cytokine levels decreased. Six enterotypes were identified among the gut microbiota. In Bifidobacterium-dominant enterotypes, there was a significant increase in acetic acid and tryptophan metabolite levels, and a slight increase in sIgA levels. In contrast, levels of calprotectin and inflammatory cytokines were significantly reduced compared to those in the non-Bifidobacterium enterotypes. Conclusions Bifidobacterium-dominant enterotypes, established in the gut after administration of B. infantis M-63, were strongly associated with anti-inflammatory effects in healthy infants. Impact <UnorderedList Mark="Bullet"> <ItemContent> This is the first study to demonstrate an anti-inflammatory effect in healthy full-term infants supplemented with Bifidobacterium infantis M-63 alone. </ItemContent> <ItemContent> Bifidobacterium-dominant enterotypes were associated with reduced levels of inflammatory cytokines and calprotectin, and increased production of beneficial tryptophan metabolites, such as Indole-3-lactic acid (ILA). </ItemContent> <ItemContent> This study provides evidence that supplementation with B. infantis M-63 in infants may significantly reduce inflammation during the critical early postnatal period. </ItemContent> </UnorderedList>

Anti-inflammatory effects of Bifidobacterium infantis M-63 during the early postnatal period in term infants

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2025年7月18日

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Chendong Xu,
Toshitaka Odamaki,
Akari Hiraku,
Setsuko Nakata,
Satoshi Arai,
Noriyuki Iwabuchi,
Miyuki Tanaka,
Takahisa Tsuno,
Masahiko Nakamura

摘要

Background

The administration of Bifidobacterium infantis M-63 during the early postnatal period enhances the abundance of gut Bifidobacterium, but its potential effects are still unexplored. The present study aimed to evaluate the impact of B. infantis M-63 on immunity, inflammation, gut-derived metabolites, and gut microbiota composition-based enterotypes in healthy infants.

Methods

Fecal samples were collected from 111 healthy infants randomly administered 1.0 × 10⁹ CFU of B. infantis M-63 or placebo daily from 7 d to 3 months of age. Gut microbial composition characterization using 16S rRNA sequencing and genus-level enterotype clustering was performed. Fecal cytokine, metabolite, short-chain fatty acid, calprotectin, and secretory immunoglobulin A (sIgA) levels were measured.

Results

Administering Bifidobacterium infantis M-63 significantly increased gut Bifidobacterium, whereas Enterobacteriaceae abundance and proinflammatory cytokine levels decreased. Six enterotypes were identified among the gut microbiota. In Bifidobacterium-dominant enterotypes, there was a significant increase in acetic acid and tryptophan metabolite levels, and a slight increase in sIgA levels. In contrast, levels of calprotectin and inflammatory cytokines were significantly reduced compared to those in the non-Bifidobacterium enterotypes.

Conclusions

Bifidobacterium-dominant enterotypes, established in the gut after administration of B. infantis M-63, were strongly associated with anti-inflammatory effects in healthy infants.

Impact

This is the first study to demonstrate an anti-inflammatory effect in healthy full-term infants supplemented with Bifidobacterium infantis M-63 alone.

Bifidobacterium-dominant enterotypes were associated with reduced levels of inflammatory cytokines and calprotectin, and increased production of beneficial tryptophan metabolites, such as Indole-3-lactic acid (ILA).

This study provides evidence that supplementation with B. infantis M-63 in infants may significantly reduce inflammation during the critical early postnatal period.