Bifidus Regularis is the name of a proprietary strain of bacteria used in the Activia Yogurt marketed in the United States. The yogurt is manufactured by the Danone or Dannon company and the proprietary strain has different names in other countries around the world. In the UK the bacteria was called Bifidus Digestivum until Danon changed the name to Bifidus Actiregularis. The bacteria is called Bifidus Lactis in Canada and Bifidus Essensis in Germany and Austria. The actual scientific name of the bacteria is Bifidobacterium animalis DN-173 010.
Bifidobacteria
Bifidobacteria animalis belongs to a class of bacteria that live in the intestines of animals, including humans. These bacteria, also known as probiotics, keep the digestive system healthy by helping break down foods. Several other bacteria also live in the human intestine and they all work together to keep the digestive tract healthy. Antibiotics and poor dietary habits can kill or damage the bacteria in the intestines leading to digestive problems such as diarrhea, constipation and malabsorption. Different strains of the bifidobacteria, along with lactobacillus, are added to yogurts and other processed foods to provide probiotic benefits. These bacteria are also available in pill and powder form as dietary supplements.
Activia Yogurt
The Danone, or Dannon, company added a proprietary strain of Bifidobacteria to yogurt to create the Activia yogurt line. Activia yogurt is a probiotic food, which means it adds beneficial bacteria back to the digestive tract to maintain digestive health. The company added Bifidus Regularis to yogurt because some bacteria are destroyed in the stomach acid. Live Bifidus Regularis is able to reach the intestines where it provides benefit, according to Activia.us.com. The company recommends consuming Activia yogurt daily, for at least two weeks, to begin seeing results.
Effectiveness
In a study, published in 2002 by the journal of "Alimentary, Pharmacology and Therapy," 36 women were given fermented milk with the same strain of Bifidobacterium used in Activia yogurt -- Bifidobacterium animalis strain DN-173 010. The women were given three 125-mg cups per day over two 10-day periods. The same women then spent two 10-day periods without ingesting the bacteria. The study determined that food passed faster through the colon while the women were ingesting the bacteria, indicating improved digestive function.
Consideration
Bifidus Regularis appears to be effective in maintaining digestive health. The regularis strain only appears by that name in Activia yogurt sold in the United States. Bifidus Regularis is part of a large family of Bifidobacterium, however, and other strains appear in different products made by different companies.
References
- What is Bifidus Regularis?: Bifidus Actiregularis, Bifidus Regularis, Bifidus Digestivum, Bifidobacterium Lactis and Variants
- Genome News Network: Friendly Tenants in the Human Gut: The Genome of B. Longum
- Activia USA: How Can Activia Help Me: What is Bifidus Regularis
- National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine: An Introduction to Probiotics
- "Alimentary, Pharmacology and Therapeutics"; Bifidobacterium Animalis Strain DN-173 010 Shortens the Colonic Transit Time in Healthy Women: A Double-Blind, Randomized, Controlled Study; P. Marteau, et al.; March 2002
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