Bifidobacterium longum subsp. infantis EVC001 stably restores the infant gut microbiome over the first year of life in breastfed infants.

Purpose: Human milk has evolved to foster not only the growth of the infant, but also to shape the gut microbiome via complex human milk oligosaccharides (HMOs). Individual taxa, specifically infant members of Bifidobacterium, are associated with positive health outcomes in infants, and genetic adaptations to human milk appear to be unique among some of these infant-associated gut microbes. The objective of this study was to longitudinally monitor the effects of supplementation early in life with an activated Bifidobacterium longum subsp. infantis (B. infantis) on gut microbial composition in infants through the first year of life. We hypothesized that colonization by B. infantis would significantly reduce populations of bacteria associated with gut dysbiosis and negative health outcomes while breastfeeding was maintained. Methods: Women who planned to breastfeed their babies for at least 3 months, and who did not have complications which could preclude breastfeeding, were enrolled along with their infants...