BIFIDOBACTERIA FOR TREATING CARDIAC CONDITIONS
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 myocardial infarction and congestive heart failure.
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 . A method of treating congestive heart failure 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.
3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the mammal in need of the treatment ingests a high-fat diet.
4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the Bifidobacterium is a probiotic Bifidobacterium or a mixture thereof.
5 . 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, Bifidobacteriurn pseudocatenulatum, Bifidobacterium adolescentis, and Bifidobacterium angulatum, and mixtures of any thereof.
6 . The method of claim 5 , wherein the bacterium is of the species Bifidobacterium animalis.
7 . The method of claim 6 , wherein the bacterium is of the species Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis.
8 . The method of claim 7 , wherein the bacterium of the species Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis strain 420 (B420).
9 . The method of claim 1 , additionally comprising administering a bacterium of the genus Lactobacillus.
10 . The method of claim 9 , 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 gassed, Lactobacillus johnsonii and Lactobacillus jensenii, and combinations of any thereof.
11 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the additional bacterium is of the species Lactobacillus salivarius.
12 . The method of claim 1 , comprising the additional administration of a prebiotic.
13 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the prebiotic is polydextrose.
14 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the Bifidobacteria is administered as a component of a food product, a dietary supplement or a pharmaceutical formulation.
15 . The method of claim 14 , wherein the Bifidobacteria is administered as a component of a food product.
16 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the Bifidobacteria is administered as a component of a yogurt.
17 . 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.
18 . The method of claim 17 , wherein the Bifidobacteria is administered at a dosage of about 10 8 to about 10 10 CFU of microorganism/dose.
19 . The method of claim 16 , wherein the yoghurt contains from about 10 8 to 10 12 CFU of the microorganism.