FUNCTIONS AND INDIVIDUAL MECHANISMS OF INFLUENCE OF BIFIDOBACTERIA ON THE STATE OF HEALTH OF INFANTS (Literary review)

Bifidobacteria are members of the human intestinal microbiota, and some strains may have health-promoting effects. The genus Bifidobacterium belongs to the phylum Actinobacteria. Firmicutes, Bacteroidetes, and Actinobacteria are the most abundant phyla in the human gut microbiota, with Firmicutes and Bacteroidetes predominating in adults and Actinobacteria in breast-fed infants, where Bifidobacteria can reach levels exceeding 90% of the total bacterial population. They are among the first microbial colonizers of the newborn gut and play a key role in the development of its physiology, including the maturation of the immune system and the utilization of food components. In fact, some nutrients, such as human milk oligosaccharides, are important factors in the development of bifidobacteria. There is now well-documented scientific evidence of the efficacy of bifidobacteria-containing products in some intestinal and extraintestinal pathologies. In this review, we will focus on the role of bifidobacteria as members of the human intestinal microbiota and their use as probiotics for disease prevention and treatment.