AUTHOR=Cheng Jing , Laitila Arja , Ouwehand Arthur C. 

TITLE=Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis HN019 Effects on Gut Health: A Review

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Nutrition

VOLUME=8

YEAR=2021

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/nutrition/articles/10.3389/fnut.2021.790561

DOI=10.3389/fnut.2021.790561

ISSN=2296-861X

ABSTRACT=<p>Optimal gut motility is central to bowel function and gut health. The link between the gut dysmotility related disorders and dysfunctional-intestinal barriers has led to a hypothesis that certain probiotics could help in normalizing gut motility and maintain gut health. This review investigates the roles of <italic>Bifidobacterium animalis</italic> subsp. <italic>lactis</italic> HN019 (<italic>B. lactis</italic> HN019™) on gut health, and its mechanisms of action in various pre-clinical and clinical studies. Research supports the hypothesis that <italic>B. lactis</italic> HN019™ has a beneficial role in maintaining intestinal barrier function during gastrointestinal infections by competing and excluding potential pathogens via different mechanisms; maintaining normal tight junction function <italic>in vitro;</italic> and regulating host immune defense toward pathogens in both <italic>in vitro</italic> and human studies. This has been observed to lead to reduced incidence of diarrhea. Interestingly, <italic>B. lactis</italic> HN019™ also supports normal physiological function in immunosenescent elderly and competes and excludes potential pathogens. Furthermore, <italic>B. lactis</italic> HN019™ reduced intestinal transit time and increased bowel movement frequency in functional constipation, potentially by modulating gut–brain–microbiota axis, mainly via serotonin signaling pathway, through short chain fatty acids derived from microbial fermentation. <italic>B. lactis</italic> HN019™ is thus a probiotic that can contribute to relieving gut dysmotility related disorders.</p>