An infant’s health from birth establishes the foundation for wellbeing throughout their life. And as global populations age, promoting infant health can be considered an essential practise for investing in healthier adult populations and reducing future healthcare burdens. Gut health plays a key role in an infant’s overall development.
A balanced and healthy gut microbiome supports nutrient absorption, helping infants thrive. Establishing healthy gut microbiota – such as Bifidobacteria – from birth is associated with reducing the risk of food allergy sensitization which starts in the early months of an infant’s life. Type of birth delivery can affect the composition of Bifidobacteria in the infant gut and can have lasting effects into adulthood.
During vaginal births, Bifidobacteria are vertically transmitted from the mother’s birth canal and colonize the intestine of the infant during the very early stages of life. Babies delivered by C-section can miss out on exposure to this beneficial bacteria. Here, the abundance of Bifidobacterium is lower than vaginal births and tends to have delayed colonization.
With the rate of C-sections set to rise to nearly a third (29%) of all births globally by 2030, navigating the impact of this growing trend is a consideration. Feeding mode is another major factor that can impact the colonization level and species composition of Bifidobacteria in an infant’s gut. Early exposure to a balanced diet in infancy creates a strong foundation to help reduce the risk of gut-related health issues or chronic diseases in adulthood and older age.
Breast milk provides essential nutrients and beneficial bacteria that support optimal growth, immune function and cognitive development. The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months of an infant’s life, followed by continued breastfeeding with complementary foods for up to two years and beyond. However, many women face challenges with breastfeeding due to the demands of balancing work and family responsibilities and, globally, many infants and children do not receive optimal feeding.
Only about 44% of infants aged 0-6 months worldwide were exclusively breastfed over the period of 2015-2020.¹ In certain regions of South Asia, data indicates that the quality of children’s diets is poor. Less than half of infants aged 6-23 months are fed sufficient meals a day and less than one in four eat the minimum number of food groups.² Meanwhile, in the US, nearly 60% of food products made for toddlers and babies was found not to meet nutrition standards set by the World Health Organization, according to a 2024 study.³ To bridge the gap between the realities of modern life and prioritising their infant’s nutrition, parents may seek alternative solutions to breastfeeding, such as formula supplementation. Bifidobacteria / HRBs for promoting gut health in infants for lifetime health Human-Residential Bifidobacteria (HRB) are the predominant beneficial bacteria that colonize the infant gut and involved in early life immune development.
A well-established HRB population is associated with stronger immunity and long-term gut health benefits, including lower risk of allergies, obesity and metabolic disorders. A 2024 study found that when Bifidobacterium was the predominant HRB in infants aged one month old, there was a reduced rate of egg white allergen sensitization and food allergies in the future.⁴ Another key role of Bifidobacteria is to build the foundation for health and support early life immune development. Studies have shown that Actinobacteria (predominantly B. infantis) abundance was positively associated with T cell responses to different vaccinations, such as BCG (Bacillus Calmette-Guérin), OPV (Oral Poliovirus Vaccine) and TT (Tetanus Toxoid) which are typically administered in infancy and childhood.⁵ Breastmilk supports the establishment and persistence of the specific group of HRB.
When comparing the gut microbial composition in infants with different feeding modes, breastfed infants’ guts are dominated with Bifidobacteria. In contrast, formula-fed infants had a much lower proportion of Bifidobacteria. Therefore, supplementing specific Bifidobacteria strains can be beneficial to help prevent dysbiosis and other related diseases later in life.
The link between HRB and HMO Human Milk Oligosaccharides (HMO) are a unique type of complex carbohydrate found in human breast milk. Despite being the third most abundant solid component in breast milk (after lactose and fats), infants are unable to digest and absorb HMOs. One of the important characteristics of HRB is their capability to utilize HMOs.
When HMOs reach the gut, they are broken down by and become food for Bifidobacteria. This promotes the growth of healthy gut bacteria. However not all Bifidobacterium species are able to colonize and establish in the infant’s gut.
B. bifidum, B. infantis and B. breve are HRBs which have a high ability to utilize HMOs. These species import almost all HMOs as intact forms and degrade them inside the cells. During this process, part of the monosaccharides is expelled from the cell, which is then preferentially utilized by B. breve to outcompete often the other species in infant intestine.
Of HRBs, Bifidobacterium longum subsp. infantis M-63 has shown superiority in utilizing different types of HMOs. Scientifically validated probiotic strain Morinaga Milk, a pioneer in Bifidobacteria research, has developed a portfolio of probiotic strains that are highly compatible with the human gut, which are originated from human and categorized as HRB.
Among 5 HRB strains, the clinical efficiency of its M-63 strain is well documented and supported by 36 scientific studies. In 2023, a double-blind randomized controlled study investigated the effects of M-63 on infants. During the study, 110 infants were given a daily dose of one billion colony forming units (CFU) for three months.⁶ Fecal samples were collected after ingestion at one week, one month, and three months to analyze the microbiota composition, stool pH, short-chain fatty acids (SCFA), and immune substances.
Results showed that M-63 significantly increased the relative abundance of bifidobacteria from the first week compared to placebo. The study showed that M-63 supplementation promoted the establishment of bifidobacteria at one week and one month regardless of C-section or vaginal births. In the subgroup analysis of exclusively breastfed, formula-fed and mixed-fed infants, feeding type did not alter the probiotics’ effectiveness of probiotics in promoting early colonization with Bifidobacteria.
Further, increased SCFA levels, decreased stool pH, and increased immunoglobulin A (IgA) concentration has been shown in fecal samples of the M-63 group. These results suggest that M-63 is highly compatible with infant gut and promotes colonization of Bifidobacterium across birth delivery and feeding modes, improving the intestinal environment in infants. Given that even some exclusively breastfed infants had lower levels of Bifidobacteria in their gut, supplementation with probiotic M-63 may be beneficial for breastfed and mixed-fed infants and a consideration for formula-fed infants.
The study also revealed the beneficial effects of M-63 on Bifidobacterial colonization and the intestinal environment. Such colonization by commensal Bifidobacteria during early life is indispensable for the normal development and growth of the gastrointestinal tract, particularly for epithelial barrier function and mucosal immunity.⁷ M-63 supplementation was also shown to promote the frequency of bowel movements and watery bowel movements decreased. It also altered fecal acetate, pH, and IgA.
These results suggest that early supplementation with M-63 can have beneficial effects on intestinal development, which is particularly important during early infancy. Unlocking early life gut health Morinaga Milk has also explored the broader role of HMOs in gut microbiota development. By incorporating HMOs and Bifidobacteria into infant formulas, Morinaga Milk aims to replicate the natural gut-nourishing effects of breast milk and help promote Bifidobacterium colonization.
Morinaga Milk’s commitment to Bifidobacteria research stems from decades of innovation in infant nutrition. The company began as a baby formula manufacturer and expanded its expertize to focus on the scientific study of probiotics, focusing on Bifidobacteria. By exploring the safety, functional health benefits and mechanisms of action, Morinaga Milk is sharing a greater understanding of HRBs and their role in human health.
By prioritizing evidence-based solutions, Morinaga Milk is dedicated to bringing greater health to infants to help promote wellness throughout their lifespan. References
