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World J Gastroenterol. Nov 7, 2014; 20(41): 15163-15176
Published online Nov 7, 2014. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v20.i41.15163
Intestinal microbiota in health and disease: Role of bifidobacteria in gut homeostasis
Rafael Tojo, Adolfo Suárez, Marta G Clemente, Clara G de los Reyes-Gavilán, Abelardo Margolles, Miguel Gueimonde, Patricia Ruas-Madiedo
Rafael Tojo, Gastroenterology Department, Hospital de Cabueñes, 33203 Gijón, Asturias, Spain
Adolfo Suárez, Gastroenterology Department, Hospital Universitario Central de Asturias (HUCA), 33006 Oviedo, Asturias, Spain
Marta G Clemente, Respiratory Department, Hospital Universitario Central de Asturias (HUCA), 33006 Oviedo, Asturias, Spain
Clara G de los Reyes-Gavilán, Abelardo Margolles, Miguel Gueimonde, Patricia Ruas-Madiedo, Department of Microbiology and Biochemistry of Dairy Products, Instituto de Productos Lácteos de Asturias-Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (IPLA-CSIC), 33300 Villaviciosa, Asturias, Spain
Author contributions: Tojo R, Suárez A, Clemente MG, de los Reyes-Gavilán CG, Margolles A, Gueimonde M and Ruas-Madiedo P contributed equally to this work; Tojo R and Suárez A wrote the section “microbiota and gastrointestinal pathology”; Clemente MG and Margolles A wrote the section “microbiota and extra-intestinal pathology”; de los Reyes-Gavilán CG, Gueimonde M and Ruas-Madiedo P wrote the remaining sections; Tojo R, Suárez A, Clemente MG, de los Reyes-Gavilán CG, Margolles A, Gueimonde M and Ruas-Madiedo P wrote the paper and approved the final draft of the review.
Supported by The Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness and by FEDER European Union funds, projects No. AGL2010-14952, No. AGL2010-16525 and No. AGL2012-33278
Correspondence to: Patricia Ruas-Madiedo, PhD, Department of Microbiology and Biochemistry of Dairy Products, Instituto de Productos Lácteos de Asturias-Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (IPLA-CSIC), Paseo Río Linares s/n, 33300 Villaviciosa, Asturias, Spain. ruas-madiedo@ipla.csic.es
Telephone: +34-895-892131 Fax: +34-985-892233
Received: March 19, 2014
Revised: May 8, 2014
Accepted: June 14, 2014
Published online: November 7, 2014
Core Tip

Core tip: In this review we focus on how bifidobacteria can contribute to maintain a proper health status through their interactions with gut microbiota and the host. We present several gastrointestinal and extra-intestinal pathologies associated with imbalances in the microbiota composition and function, including bifidobacteria-associated dysbiosis. We review up-to-date scientific evidence sustaining the use of probiotic bifidobacteria to prevent, or treat, several disorders, and we include a list of specific Bifidobacterium strains that have been tested in human clinical studies.