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Activia
A recent randomized, controlled, double-blind, parallel study provides the first evidence of the effect of ACTIVIA® on digestive comfort(12).
Effects of ACTIVIA® on Digestive Comfort in IBS subjects(12)
Guyonnet et al(12). published in 2007 a clinical study where 267 IBS-C subjects (199 females, 68 males; mean age 49±11 years) fulfilling Rome II criteria were randomized, after a baseline period of 1 to 3 weeks, to consume twice daily for 6 weeks either a fermented milk containing Bifidobacterium lactis DN-173 010 ( ACTIVIA®) or a heat-treated yogurt (control). Digestive comfort measured by the discomfort dimension of a quality of life questionnaire (FDDQL), and bloating were assessed at baseline and after 3 and 6 weeks of product consumption. Stool frequency and consistency were also assessed throughout the study.
Results showed that consumption of ACTIVIA® was associated with a significant improvment of the discomfort dimension score of FDDQL (p<0.001) in both groups after 3 weeks (product 10.68 ± 14.45, control 7.52 ± 14.71) and 6 weeks (product 12.20 ± 16.18, control 13.51 ± 19.28), in comparison to the control group. The proportion of responders for discomfort dimension (at least 10% improvement of score vs baseline) was significantly (p<0.005) higher in the product group at 3 weeks (product 65.2% vs control 47.7%), but did not differ statistically at 6 weeks (product 63.0% vs control 56.8%). In comparison to baseline, bloating score significantly reduced (p<0.05) after 3 weeks (product -0.56 ± 1.01, control -0.31 ± 0.87). A sub-analysis on subjects with less than 3 bowel movements/week showed a significant (p<0.001) increase in stool frequency over the 6-weeks product consumption, as compared to control.
This study indicates that the consumption of ACTIVIA® is able to improve digestive comfort.
* formely named B. animalis.
According to new taxonomy, now this strain is classified as B. animalis subspecies lactis (Masco et al, Polyphasic taxonomic analysis of Bifidobacterium animalis and Bifidobacterium lactis reveals relatedness at the subspecies level: reclassification of Bifidobacterium animalis as Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. animalis subsp. nov. and Bifidobacterium lactis as Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis subsp. Nov. International Journal of Systematic and Evolutionary Microbiology (2004), 54, 1137-1143) and can be commonly named B. lactis.
Activia is a functional food*, It is neither a Drug , nor a FSMP ( Food for Special Medical Purpose) which are developped and manufactured for other purpose, under different and specific legislation and requirements.
Scientific studies have shown a support of Activia on digestive transit and digestive comfort
*food for healthy people with minor "disorder" of a function of their body for which the scientific studies have shown a support to a natural body function
Effects of ACTIVIA® on total transit time in elderly subjects(10,11)
In a first randomized, open, non-labelled, parallel study on 90 eldely subjects, Meance et al., (2001)(10) showed that consumption of 2x125 g or 3x125 g of ACTIVIA® per day for two weeks significantly reduced intestinal transit time (p<0.001): 10% reduction in the group with a short transit time (less than 40 hours) and 40% reduction in the group with a long transit time (greater than 40 hours). The results were greater in the group of elderly subjects who had 3x125 g of ACTIVIA® versus 2x125 g (p<0.05).
The same authors performed later in 2003 a second randomized, controlled, double-blind, parallel study to investigate the efficacy of one and two servings per day of ACTIVIA® on elderly subjects, and to determine the duration of the reduction in transit time after discontinuing product consumption. The study included 159 healthy elderly volunteers, aged 50-75 years, divided in two groups - 81 with moderate transit time (40-50 hours) and 78 with a longer transit time (50-70 hours). They were randomized to receive either 1x125 g or 2x125 g of ACTIVIA® per day for 2 weeks. Consumption of one or two 125g cups of ACTIVIA® significantly reduced intestinal transit time, both in subjects with moderate and long transit times (p<0.05). However, two servings per day were more effective than one serving per day (p<0.05). The effect of ACTIVIA® persisted for at least two weeks after the end of consumption of one serving and for at least four weeks after the end of ingestion of two servings.
Clinical evidence on digestive comfort]
Digestive comfort is a multidimensional concept which includes physical and psychological components. It can be assessed by individual perception measurements based on validated markers and questionnaires for subjective and objective parameters. It refers to the ability of the digestive system to function properly and support a high quality of life. This implies the absence of digestive complaints such as abdominal pain, flatulence, excessive bloated feeling, and altered bowel habit for the lower digestive tract.
Author: Redaction
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2 Pochart P, et al. "Survival of Bifidobacteria ingested via fermented milk during their passage through the human small intestine: an in vivo study using intestinal perfusion." Am J Clin Nutr, 1992; 55:78-80.
3 Pochart P, et al. "Isolement des bifidobactéries dans les selles après ingestion prolongée de lait au bifidus." Med Mal Infect, 1990; 20: 75-78.
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5 Collado M.C et al. "Molecular detection of Bifidobacterium animalis DN-173 010 in human feces during fermented milk administration". Food Research International, 2006; 39: 530-535
6 Rochet V et al. "Survival of Bifidobacterium animalis DN-173 010 in the faecal microbiota after administration in lyophilised form or in fermented product - a randomised study in healthy adults." Journal of Molecular Microbiology & Biotechnology, 2007
7 He T et al. "Effects of yogurt and bifidobacteria supplementation on the colonic microbiota in lactose-intolerant subjects" Journal of Applied Microbiology, 2007.
8 Bouvier M, et al. "Effects of consumption of a milk fermented by the probiotic Bifidobacterium animalis DN-173 010 on colonic transit time in healthy humans." Bioscience and Microflora, 2001; Vol 20(2): 43-48.
9 Marteau P, et al. "Bifidobacterium animalis, strain DN-173 010 shortens the colonic transit time in healthy women. A double-blind randomised controlled study." Aliment Pharmacol Ther, 2002; 16: 587-593.
10 Méance S, et al. "A fermented milk with Bifidobacterium probiotic strain DN-173 010 shortened oro-fecal gut transit time in elderly." Microb Ecology Health Dis, 2001; 13: 217-222.
11 Méance S, et al. "Recent advance in the use of functional foods: Effect of the commercial fermented milk with Bifidobacterium animalis strain DN-173 010 and yogurt strains on gut transit time in the elderly." Microb Ecology Health Dis, 2003; 15: 15-22.
12 Guyonnet and al, "Effect of a fermented milk containing Bifidobacterium animalis DN-173 010 on the health-related quality of life and symptoms in irritable bowel syndrome in adults in primary care: amulticentre, randomized, double-blind, controlled trial Alimentary Pharmacology & Therapeutics 26 (3) , 475-486, 2007"
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