From the Guidelines
Lactobacillus delbrueckii should be used in specific combinations and strains, such as the 3-strain combination of Lactobacillus acidophilus, Lactobacillus delbrueckii subsp. bulgaricus, and Bifidobacterium bifidum, for the prevention of C. difficile infection in adults and children on antibiotic treatment, as suggested by the AGA clinical practice guidelines 1.
Key Points
- Lactobacillus delbrueckii is a beneficial probiotic bacterium with several subspecies, including bulgaricus, lactis, and delbrueckii.
- The AGA suggests the use of specific probiotic strains and combinations, including Lactobacillus delbrueckii subsp. bulgaricus, for the prevention of C. difficile infection in adults and children on antibiotic treatment 1.
- The recommended probiotic combinations include Saccharomyces boulardii, the 2-strain combination of Lactobacillus acidophilus CL1285 and Lactobacillus casei LBC80R, the 3-strain combination of Lactobacillus acidophilus, Lactobacillus delbrueckii subsp. bulgaricus, and Bifidobacterium bifidum, and the 4-strain combination of Lactobacillus acidophilus, Lactobacillus delbrueckii subsp. bulgaricus, Bifidobacterium bifidum, and Streptococcus salivarius subsp. thermophilus 1.
- The use of probiotics in other gastrointestinal disorders, such as irritable bowel syndrome, Crohn's disease, and ulcerative colitis, is not recommended outside of a clinical trial setting due to limited evidence and knowledge gaps 1.
- Patients with severely compromised immune systems should consult healthcare providers before using Lactobacillus delbrueckii or other probiotics 1.
From the Research
Lactobacillus delbrueckii Overview
- Lactobacillus delbrueckii is a species of lactic acid bacteria that has been studied for its potential health benefits 2, 3.
- It is a type of probiotic, which is a live microorganism that provides benefits to the host when administered in adequate amounts 4, 5.
Health Benefits
- Lactobacillus delbrueckii subsp. bulgaricus 8481 has been shown to enhance systemic immunity in elderly subjects, increasing the percentage of NK cells and improving parameters defining the immune risk profile (IRP) 2.
- It has also been found to increase the T cell subsets that are less differentiated and decrease the concentrations of the pro-inflammatory cytokine IL-8 2.
- Additionally, Lactobacillus delbrueckii subsp. lactis CIDCA 133 has been reported to have a molecular basis attributed to the host's benefit, although its safety aspects have also been investigated 3.
Safety Evaluation
- The safety of Lactobacillus delbrueckii subsp. lactis CIDCA 133 has been evaluated based on whole-genome sequence and phenotypic analysis, and no adverse effects were observed regarding mice clinical and histopathological analysis after the strain consumption 3.
- Genomic analysis showed that L. delbrueckii subsp. lactis CIDCA 133 harbors virulence, harmful metabolites, and antimicrobial resistance-associated genes, but none of these genetic elements is flanked or located within prophage regions and plasmid sequence 3.
Probiotic Applications
- Lactobacillus delbrueckii has been considered for use as a probiotic in various applications, including the treatment of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) 4, 5, 6.
- However, more research is needed to fully understand the effectiveness and safety of Lactobacillus delbrueckii as a probiotic, particularly in different populations and for different health conditions 4, 5, 6.