Growth of Bifidobacteria in Adults' Intestines on Oral Administration of Sugar Source, Pantethine and Riboflavin

Among 45 Bifidobacterium strains of adult origin , all required a sugar source (ex. lactose) and pantethine (or pantothenic acid), 35 strains required riboflavin , and 12 required thiamine as essential nutrients . Fifteen strains were able to grow on pantothenic acid as well as pantethine. Fewer than 9 strains required other nutrients. The sugar source (10 to 15 g/day), pantethine (50 mg/day) and riboflavin (5 mg/day) were orally administered to 2 healthy adults whose proportion of bifidobacteria in the intestinal florae was usually very low (less than 1% of total bacterial number) . The sugar source was lactulose, raffinose or inulin. Pantethine and riboflavin were packed together in capsules and enteric-coated. Administration of both sugar source and vitamin capsules caused marked growth of bifidobacteria (more than 40% of total bacterial number) in both adults. Administration of the sugar source alone caused moderate growth of bifidobacteria (13%), while administration of the vitamin capsules alone was ineffective. These results indicate that the sugar source is essential for growth of bifidobacteria in adults, as well as in infants, and that administration of pantethine and riboflavin is important.