A Bakers Dozen – Dr. Ohhira’s Probiotics® Probiotic Strains

A Monthly Breakdown of Each Starter Strain Selected for
Fermentation in Dr. Ohhira’s Probiotics

Dr. Ohhira was a visionary microbiologist who was decades ahead of his time. He recognized that in the human gastrointestinal tract and throughout nature, one of the primary functions of bacteria is to ferment/digest organic matter, which produces compounds that play critical roles in regulating health. Dr. Ohhira originally called these metabolites, biogenic compounds. Today, they are more commonly referred to as postbiotic metabolites.

Dr. Ohhira carefully selected twelve strains of probiotic bacteria to be the starter strains used in the multi-year fermentation process to produce Dr. Ohhira’s Probiotics. These strains of bacteria have substantially different DNA, which enables them to ferment other compounds in the food you eat (primarily dietary fibers and polyphenols). The net result is that different strains of bacteria can produce various kinds of postbiotic metabolites, which have a wide range of health benefits.

For the next year we will highlight each of these 12 strains beginning with Bifidobacterium breve M-16V.

  1. Bifidobacterium breve M-16V

Main Benefits: intestinal health; prevention of diarrhea; reduced allergy symptoms

Bifidobacterium breve is considered one of the most beneficial species of friendly bacteria in humans. Some of its health benefits are due to its strong production of both acetici and lactic acidii, which are short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) known to promote GI health. Bifidobacterium breve is found in high concentrations in the colon of breast-fed infants.iii In infants, Bifidobacterium breve has been shown to protect against loose stools.iv

Bifidobacterium breve has been shown to provide strong anti-allergy benefits and to help with inflammation. One study reported that Bifidobacterium breve’s anti-inflammatory activity was so vigorous that its benefits were comparable to budesonide’s asthma medication.v In a human clinical trial, Bifidobacterium breve significantly reduced the symptoms of atopic dermatitis.vi

i Wang C., et al., Effects of oral administration of Bifidobacterium breve on fecal lactic acid and short-chain fatty acids in low birth-weight infants. J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr. 2007 Feb;44(2):252-7.
ii Menard S. et al., Bifidobacterium breve and Streptococcus thermophilus secretion products enhance T helper 1 immune response and intestinal barrier in mice. Exp Biol Med (Maywood). 2005 Nov;230(10):749-56.
iii Roger LC, et al., Examination of faecal Bifidobacterium populations in breast- and formula-fed infants during the first 18 months of life. Microbiology. 2010 Nov;156(Pt 11):3329-41.
iv Di Gioia D, et al., Bifidobacteria: their impact on gut microbiota composition and their applications as probiotics in infants. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol. 2014 Jan;98(2):563-77.
v Sagar, S, et al., Bifidobacterium breve and Lactobacillus rhamnosus treatment is as effective as budesonide at reducing inflammation in a murine model for chronic asthma. Respiratory Research 2014, 15:46.
vi Remote E, et al., Probiotics reduce gut microbial translocation and improve adult atopic dermatitis. J Clin Gastroenterol. 2012 Oct;46 Suppl:S33-40.