Patent

1. A method of treating a human subject, the method comprising administering to the subject an oral formulation comprising Bifidobacterium longum strain having the accession number NCIMB 41676 and an ingestible carrier, wherein the formulation improves or sustains vitality in the subject as measured by an increase in theta band resting state brain oscillations in the frontal and cingulate cortex and a decrease in beta-3 resting state brain oscillations in the hippocampus, fusiform, and temporal cortex.

2. A method of treating a healthy human subject, the method comprising administering to the subject an oral formulation comprising Bifidobacterium longum strain having the accession number NCIMB 41676 and an ingestible carrier, wherein the formulation improves vitality and reduces mental fatigue in the subject as measured by neural activity, compared to a corresponding healthy human subject orally administered with only the ingestible carrier, and wherein the neural activity includes an increase in theta band resting state brain oscillations of the cingulate cortex, or a decrease in beta-3 resting state brain oscillations in the hippocampus, fusiform, or temporal cortex.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the formulation is administered daily.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the strain is in the form of viable cells.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the strain is in the form of non-viable cells.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the formulation is in the form of a capsule, a tablet, or a powder.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the ingestible carrier is a food product chosen from acidified milk, a yoghurt, a frozen food, a gum, a candy, a milk powder, a milk concentrate, a cheese spread, a nutritional composition, a nutritional supplement, a cereal bar, a dressing, or a beverage.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the formulation is an infant food.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the formulation further comprises a protein, a peptide, a lipid, a carbohydrate, a vitamin, a mineral, a trace element, or a combination thereof.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the strain is present in an amount of more than 10 6 cfu.

11. The method of claim 1 , wherein the strain is present in the formulation in an amount of from 10 7 cfu to 10 10 cfu.

12. The method of claim 1 , wherein the strain is present in the formulation in an amount of from 10 8 cfu to 10 9 cfu.

13. The method of claim 1 , wherein the subject is at least 60 years old.

14. The method of claim 1 , wherein the formulation improves vitality in the subject as measured by the 36-item short-form health survey (SF36).

15. The method of claim 1 , wherein the formulation reduces mental fatigue in the subject as measured by neural activity.

16. The method of claim 2 , wherein the strain is in the form of viable cells or non-viable cells.

17. The method of claim 2 , wherein the formulation is in the form of a capsule, a tablet, or a powder.

18. The method of claim 2 , wherein the ingestible carrier is a food product chosen from acidified milk, a yoghurt, a frozen food, a gum, a candy, a milk powder, a milk concentrate, a cheese spread, a nutritional composition, a nutritional supplement, a cereal bar, a dressing, or a beverage.

19. The method of claim 2 , wherein the strain is present in the formulation in an amount of more than 10 6 cfu.

20. The method of claim 2 , wherein the formulation further comprises a protein, a peptide, a lipid, a carbohydrate, a vitamin, a mineral, a trace element, or a combination thereof.