Bifidobacteria for treating diabetes and related conditions

Abstract

This invention relates to new uses of Bifidobacteria (particularly, although not exclusively, probiotic Bifidobacteria), and to food products, feed products, dietary supplements and pharmaceutical formulations containing them. The bacteria are suitable for the treatment of diabetes (particularly Type 2 diabetes), obesity and related conditions, metabolic syndrome, insulin resistance, and impaired glucose metabolism and consequences thereof, lowering tissue inflammation, treating hepatitis, myositis and cardiovascular conditions.

1 . A method of treating myocardial infarction in a mammal, the method comprising administering to a mammal in need of such treatment a bacterium of the genus  Bifidobacterium  or a mixture thereof. 
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the mammal in need of the treatment ingests a high-fat diet. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the  Bifidobacterium  is a probiotic  Bifidobacterium  or a mixture thereof. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the bacterium is of the species selected from the group consisting of  Bifidobacterium lactis, Bifidobacterium bifidium, Bifidobacterium longum, Bifidobacterium animalis, Bifidobacterium breve, Bifidobacterium infantis, Bifidobacterium catenulatum, Bifidobacterium pseudocatenulatum, Bifidobacterium adolescentis , and  Bifidobacterium angulatum , and mixtures of any thereof. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the bacterium is of the species  Bifidobacterium animalis.    
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the bacterium is of the species  Bifidobacterium animalis  subsp.  lactis.    
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the bacterium of the species  Bifidobacterium animalis  subsp.  lactis  strain 420 (B420). 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , additionally comprising administering a bacterium of the genus  Lactobacillus.    
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the additional bacterium is of the species selected from the group consisting of  Lactobacillus acidophilus, Lactobacillus casei, Lactobacillus kefiri, Lactobacillus bifidus, Lactobacillus brevis, Lactobacillus helveticus, Lactobacillus paracasei, Lactobacillus rhamnosus, Lactobacillus salivarius, Lactobacillus curvatus, Lactobacillus bulgaricus, Lactobacillus sakei, Lactobacillus reuteri, Lactobacillus fermentum, Lactobacillus farciminis, Lactobacillus lactis, Lactobacillus delbreuckii, Lactobacillus plantarum, Lactobacillus paraplantarum, Lactobacillus crispatus, Lactobacillus gasseri, Lactobacillus johnsonii  and  Lactobacillus jensenii , and combinations of any thereof. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the additional bacterium is of the species  Lactobacillus salivarius.    
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , comprising the additional administration of a prebiotic. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the prebiotic is polydextrose. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the Bifidobacteria is administered as a component of a food product, a dietary supplement or a pharmaceutical formulation. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the Bifidobacteria is administered as a component of a food product. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the Bifidobacteria is administered as a component of a yogurt. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the Bifidobacteria is administered at a dosage of from about 10 6  to about 10 12  CFU of microorganism/dose. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the Bifidobacteria is administered at a dosage of about 10 8  to about 10 12  CFU of microorganism/dose. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the yoghurt contains from about 10 8  to 10 12  CFU of the microorganism.