Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 26, 2026
08:15
Recapitulating Suckling-to-Weaning Transition In Vitro using Fetal Intestinal Organoids
Published on: November 15, 2019
Can Bifidobacterium infantis M-63 reshape the weaning gut?
Silvia Bettocchi1, Carlo Agostoni1,2, Gregorio P Milani3,4
1Pediatric Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy.
Pediatric Research
|June 24, 2026
Summary
Supplementing with Bifidobacterium longum subsp. infantis M-63 during weaning successfully engrafted the gut but showed limited clinical benefits. Responses were influenced by diet, suggesting further research is needed for effective microbiome strategies.
Area of Science:
- Microbiome research
- Pediatric nutrition
- Probiotic science
Background:
- Weaning is a critical period for gut microbiota and immune development in infants.
- Understanding the impact of probiotics during this phase is crucial for early life health.
- Bifidobacterium longum subsp. infantis M-63 is a probiotic strain of interest for infant gut health.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review and contextualize a trial on B. infantis M-63 supplementation during infant weaning.
- To assess the effects of this probiotic on gut microbiota, metabolites, and clinical outcomes.
- To explore the potential of targeted probiotics for supporting gut health during complementary feeding.
Main Methods:
- A randomized controlled trial involving healthy infants and toddlers supplemented with B. infantis M-63 for 8 weeks during weaning.
- Assessment of clinical outcomes, gut microbiota composition, and fecal microbial metabolites.
- Analysis of physiological and functional effects of probiotic intervention, considering dietary factors.
Main Results:
- Successful intestinal engraftment of B. infantis M-63 was observed.
- Modest improvements in stool consistency and increased fecal short-chain fatty acids (acetate) were noted.
- Broader clinical benefits were limited and variable, influenced by dietary factors like breastfeeding status.
- Ecological competition within bifidobacteria may limit sustained microbial expansion.
Conclusions:
- Probiotic supplementation with B. infantis M-63 can modulate the infant gut ecosystem during weaning.
- Clinically meaningful benefits of this probiotic intervention remain uncertain.
- Future research should integrate dietary, microbial, and host factors for effective microbiome-targeted strategies in early life.
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