Bifidobacterium breve

check icon Optimal Result: 4.6 - 1000 x10^6 CFU/g.

Bifidobacterium breve – US BioTek GI Standard Test Panel

What is Bifidobacterium breve?

Bifidobacterium breve is a beneficial probiotic bacterium naturally found in the human gut, particularly in infants and breastfed babies. It plays a crucial role in digestion, immune function, and protecting against harmful microbes. This strain is known for its ability to ferment a variety of carbohydrates, break down dietary fiber, and produce short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), which support gut health.

Why is This Marker Important?

The presence of Bifidobacterium breve on a US BioTek GI Standard test panel helps assess gut microbiome health. Low or high levels may indicate an imbalance affecting digestion, immune response, or overall well-being.

Low Bifidobacterium breve Levels: What It Means

If Bifidobacterium breve levels are low, it may suggest:

  • Weakened immune function – This strain helps regulate immune responses and reduce inflammation.
  • Impaired digestion – Reduced fiber fermentation can lead to bloating, constipation, or irregular bowel movements.
  • Gut dysbiosis – A lack of B. breve can allow harmful bacteria or yeasts (e.g., Candida) to proliferate.
  • Inflammatory conditions – Research links low B. breve to conditions such as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), and allergies.
  • Metabolic and weight issues – This strain helps modulate metabolism, and lower levels may contribute to obesity or metabolic syndrome.

Causes of Low Levels:

  • Antibiotic use – Kills beneficial gut bacteria, including B. breve.
  • Dietary factors – Low fiber, high sugar, and processed foods hinder its growth.
  • Chronic stress – Alters gut bacteria balance and diversity.
  • Aging – Levels decline naturally over time.
  • Gut infections or inflammation – Conditions like SIBO, IBD, or food intolerances may deplete B. breve.

High Bifidobacterium breve Levels: What It Means

Excess B. breve is uncommon but could result from:

  • Overuse of probiotics or supplements – Excessive intake of B. breve-containing probiotics may cause an overgrowth.
  • Dietary changes – High intake of prebiotic fibers (e.g., inulin, fructooligosaccharides) may promote excessive growth.
  • Microbial imbalance – If B. breve is elevated while other beneficial bacteria are low, it may indicate gut dysbiosis.

How to Support Healthy Bifidobacterium breve Levels

  1. Eat Prebiotic-Rich Foods
    • Garlic, onions, leeks, bananas, asparagus, oats, and whole grains.
  2. Consume Fermented Foods
    • Yogurt, kefir, kimchi, sauerkraut, and miso.
  3. Consider a Targeted Probiotic
    • Supplements containing B. breve can help restore levels if deficient.
  4. Reduce Processed Foods & Sugar
    • Excess sugar feeds harmful bacteria, disrupting gut balance.
  5. Manage Stress & Sleep Well
    • Chronic stress negatively impacts gut microbiota.

Conclusion

Bifidobacterium breve is a vital probiotic strain that supports digestion, immune function, and metabolic health. Monitoring its levels on the US BioTek GI Standard test can provide insights into gut balance. If levels are too low or too high, dietary and lifestyle changes can help optimize gut health.

All Your Lab Results.
One Simple Dashboard.

What does it mean if your Bifidobacterium breve result is too low?

What Do Low Bifidobacterium breve Levels Signify?

Low Bifidobacterium breve levels on a US BioTek GI Standard test panel suggest an imbalance in the gut microbiome, which may impact digestion, immunity, and overall health. Since B. breve is a key probiotic species, its deficiency can lead to various health concerns.

Potential Implications of Low Bifidobacterium breve Levels

  1. Weakened Immune Function

    • B. breve plays a critical role in modulating immune responses and reducing inflammation. Low levels may increase susceptibility to infections, allergies, and autoimmune disorders.
  2. Digestive Issues

    • This bacterium aids in breaking down dietary fiber and fermenting carbohydrates. A deficiency may contribute to bloating, constipation, gas, and irregular bowel movements.
  3. Increased Risk of Dysbiosis (Gut Microbiome Imbalance)

    • Low B. breve levels can allow harmful bacteria and yeasts (e.g., Clostridium, Candida) to proliferate, leading to inflammation, gut infections, and metabolic imbalances.
  4. Higher Inflammation and Gut Barrier Dysfunction

    • B. breve supports the integrity of the gut lining. Reduced levels may contribute to leaky gut syndrome (intestinal permeability), which can trigger systemic inflammation and food sensitivities.
  5. Metabolic and Weight Management Issues

    • Research suggests that B. breve is involved in regulating metabolism. Low levels have been associated with obesity, metabolic syndrome, and insulin resistance.
  6. Potential Links to Neurological and Mood Disorders

    • The gut-brain connection is well established, and low B. breve levels have been linked to anxiety, depression, and cognitive decline due to their role in neurotransmitter production and inflammation regulation.

Common Causes of Low Bifidobacterium breve Levels

  • Antibiotic Use – Broad-spectrum antibiotics can deplete beneficial bacteria, including B. breve.
  • Poor Diet – Diets low in fiber and high in processed foods and sugar hinder beneficial bacterial growth.
  • Chronic Stress – Stress-related hormonal changes negatively impact gut microbiota diversity.
  • AgingB. breve levels naturally decline with age, affecting digestion and immune function.
  • Gut Infections & Inflammatory Conditions – Conditions like IBS, IBD, small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO), and food intolerances can reduce B. breve levels.

How to Increase Bifidobacterium breve Levels

  1. Increase Prebiotic Fiber Intake

    • Foods like bananas, garlic, onions, asparagus, chicory root, whole grains, and legumes promote B. breve growth.
  2. Consume Fermented & Probiotic Foods

    • Yogurt, kefir, kimchi, sauerkraut, and miso contain beneficial probiotics, including B. breve strains.
  3. Consider a Targeted Probiotic Supplement

    • Supplements containing Bifidobacterium breve can help restore levels if they are significantly low.
  4. Reduce Processed Foods & Sugar

    • Excess sugar promotes the overgrowth of harmful bacteria, suppressing beneficial ones like B. breve.
  5. Manage Stress & Improve Sleep

    • Chronic stress alters gut microbiota composition, so relaxation techniques, regular exercise, and sufficient sleep can help rebalance it.

Conclusion

Low Bifidobacterium breve levels may indicate poor gut health, immune dysfunction, and increased inflammation. Addressing the root cause through dietary and lifestyle changes can help restore a balanced microbiome and improve overall well-being.

Laboratories

Bring All Your Lab Results Together — In One Place

We accept reports from any lab, so you can easily collect and organize all your health information in one secure spot.

lab corp logo
genova diagnostics logo
quest diagnostics logo
dutch test logo
doctors data logo
vibrant america logo
diagnostic solutions logo
zrt laboratory logo
the great plains laboratory logo
cyrex laboratories logo
spectracell logo

Pricing Table

decoration

Personal plans

$15/ month

Complete Plan

Access your lab reports, explanations, and tracking tools.

  • Import lab results from any provider
  • Track all results with visual tools
  • Customize your reference ranges
  • Export your full lab history anytime
  • Share results securely with anyone
  • Begin with first report entered
  • Cancel or upgrade anytime

$250/ once

Unlimited Account

Pay once, access everything—no monthly fees, no limits.

  • Import lab results from any provider
  • Track all results with visual tools
  • Customize your reference ranges
  • Export your full lab history anytime
  • Share results securely with anyone
  • Receive 10 reports entered for you
  • Skip the $15/month subscription — no recurring payments ever

$45/ month

Pro Monthly

Designed for professionals managing their clients' lab reports

  • Import lab results from any provider
  • Track lab results for multiple clients
  • Customize reference ranges per client
  • Export lab histories and reports
  • Begin with first report entered by us
  • Cancel or upgrade anytime

About membership

What's included in a Healthmatters membership

microscope icon Import Lab Results from Any Source

person icon See Your Health Timeline

book icon Understand What Your Results Mean

textbook icon

textbook icon Visualize Your Results

folder icon

folder icon

card icon Securely Share With Anyone You Trust

Let Your Lab Results Tell the Full Story

What Healthmatters Members Are Saying

5 stars rating

I have been using Healthmatters.io since 2021. I travel all over the world and use different doctors and health facilities. This site has allowed me to consolidate all my various test results over 14 years in one place. And every doctor that I show this to has been impressed. Because with  any health professional I talk to, I can pull up historical results in seconds. It is invaluable. Even going back to the same doctor, they usually do not have the historical results from their facility in a graph format. That has been very helpful.

Anthony

Unlimited Plan Member since 2021

5 stars rating

What fantastic service and great, easy-to-follow layouts! I love your website; it makes it so helpful to see patterns in my health data. It's truly a pleasure to use. I only wish the NHS was as organized and quick as Healthmatters.io. You've set a new standard for health tracking!

Karin

Advanced Plan Member since 2020

5 stars rating

As a PRO member and medical practitioner, Healthmatters.io has been an invaluable tool for tracking my clients' data. The layout is intuitive, making it easy to monitor trends and spot patterns over time. The ability to customize reports and charts helps me present information clearly to my clients, improving communication and outcomes. It's streamlined my workflow, saving me time and providing insights at a glance. Highly recommended for any practitioner looking for a comprehensive and user-friendly solution to track patient labs!

Paul

Healthmatters Pro Member since 2024

Use promo code to save 10% off any plan.

Frequently asked questions

Healthmatters is a personal health dashboard that helps you organize and understand your lab results. It collects and displays your medical test data from any lab in one secure, easy-to-use platform.

  • Individuals who want to track and understand their health over time.
  • Health professionals, such as doctors, nutritionists, and wellness coaches, need to manage and interpret lab data for their clients.

With a Healthmatters account, you can:

  • Upload lab reports from any lab
  • View your data in interactive graphs, tables, and timelines
  • Track trends and monitor changes over time
  • Customize your reference ranges
  • Export and share your full lab history
  • Access your results anytime, from any device

Professionals can also analyze client data more efficiently and save time managing lab reports.

Healthmatters.io personal account provides in-depth research on 4000+ biomarkers, including information and suggestions for test panels such as, but not limited to:

  • The GI Effects® Comprehensive Stool Profile,
  • GI-MAP,
  • The NutrEval FMV®,
  • The ION Profile,
  • Amino Acids Profile,
  • Dried Urine Test for Comprehensive Hormones (DUTCH),
  • Organic Acids Test,
  • Organix Comprehensive Profile,
  • Toxic Metals,
  • Complete Blood Count (CBC),
  • Metabolic panel,
  • Thyroid panel,
  • Lipid Panel,
  • Urinalysis,
  • And many, many more.

You can combine all test reports inside your Healthmatters account and keep them in one place. It gives you an excellent overview of all your health data. Once you retest, you can add new results and compare them.

If you are still determining whether Healthmatters support your lab results, the rule is that if you can test it, you can upload it to Healthmatters.

shield icon

We implement proven measures to keep your data safe.

At HealthMatters, we're committed to maintaining the security and confidentiality of your personal information. We've put industry-leading security standards in place to help protect against the loss, misuse, or alteration of the information under our control. We use procedural, physical, and electronic security methods designed to prevent unauthorized people from getting access to this information. Our internal code of conduct adds additional privacy protection. All data is backed up multiple times a day and encrypted using SSL certificates. See our Privacy Policy for more details.

gdpr compliance image hipaa compliance image