Jessica Oakley

NUTR 302 Claims Evaluation

February 18, 2008

Activia with Bifidus Regularis

Activia with Bifidus Regularis is scientifically proven to help with slow intestinal transit when eaten daily for two

weeks, as part of a balanced diet and healthy lifestyle.

Dannon has a line of yogurt called Activia, which is marketed solely on the

yogurt’s exclusive addition of Bifidus Regularis, a probiotic strain of bifidobacteria.

Activia claims that the Bifidus Regularis will help to regulate the digestive system and

help with slow intestinal transit (1). Activia’s website explains that this probiotic survives

passage through the digestive tract, arrives in the colon as a living culture, and once there

plays a beneficial role in the body’s intestinal ecosystem, specifically in reducing long

intestinal transit time (1). An evaluation of this claim is made possible for consumers by

citation of recent research articles on the Activia website. In addition to Activia’s cited

articles, the area of probiotics and digestive health has produced a significant amount of

studies and research materials to properly evaluate the claim made my Activia and

Dannon.

In order to properly evaluate Activia’s claim and ensure that the sources cited

were representative of all studies regarding the claim, one would need to look further for

research articles dealing with physiological effects of probiotics and the enrichment of

yogurt with Bifidobacteria. For this evaluation, two studies, both published in 2007,

dealing with the effects of probiotics on constipation were analyzed. A third study, on the

enrichment of yogurt with Bifidobacterium longum and its colonic/fecal effects on

healthy individuals, was also considered.

The first study consisted of a trial involving 129 patients with irritable bowel

syndrome, specifically constipation. The article explains that the trial was conducted on
 Jessica Oakley
NUTR 302 Claims Evaluation
February 18, 2008

evidence that probiotics, a specific strain of Bifidobacteria in this case, improve intestinal

microbial balance and may be beneficial to patients with constipation-predominant

irritable bowel syndrome (2). The three-month study administered patients with three

grams of a bifidobacteria-containing preparation every day at breakfast. The patients

were evaluated at intervals by means of a medical interview, questionnaires, and physical

examinations (2) to judge the status of their IBS symptoms. The results state that “a

significant total symptom frequency reduction was observed” (2) over the course of the

study, which included abdominal pain and bloating, and that there was “a strong positive

effect on stool frequency” (2). This study concludes that the treatment was effective in

treating constipation-variant IBS and also cites another major study: “The largest trial

published to date demonstrated a significant clinical improvement with the treatment with

Bifidobacterium” (2).

A second study used a similar approach in the treatment of childhood

constipation. In this study, a probiotic mixture, containing Bifidobacteria, was

administered daily to children between the ages of 4 and 16 who were experiencing

constipation (3). Twenty participants were evaluated in this 4-week study, which resulted

in the conclusion that the administration of probiotics “increases the frequency of bowel

movements in constipated children” (3) and showed other symptom-related

improvements as well, with no negative side-effects (3). Therefore, the positive attributes

of Bifidobacteria were proven to show improvements in both children and adults with

constipation and would be a favorable treatment due to the lack of negative side-effects.

A third study investigated the effects of yogurt enriched with Bifidobacterium

longum on healthy individuals. “During two 3-week periods, the subjects received 500
 Jessica Oakley
NUTR 302 Claims Evaluation
February 18, 2008

mL of a yogurt drink per day” (4), which was either conventional yogurt or enriched

yogurt. This study reveals that no differences were found “in oro-anal mean transit time

after consumption of either yogurt preparation” (4). However, no patients had signs of

constipation at the beginning of the study, and were simply able to maintain healthy

bowel function for the duration of the study. This study leaves the conclusion that human

fecal flora is stable even with a dietary intervention such as this trial (4).

This evaluation of Activia’s claim found sufficient research to support the claim.

Studies have proven that Bifidobacteria, or Bifidus Regularis in Dannon’s case, does help

with slow intestinal transit time and other symptoms of constipation. In addition, when

ingested by healthy individuals, no laxative effects, or any other negative side-effects,

were observed and therefore it is suggested that healthy individuals consume this

probiotic yogurt as well for maintenance of a healthy digestive system and

gastrointestinal health.

References

1. Activia yogurt. www.activia.us.com

2. Dughera L, Elia C, Navino M, Cisaro F; ARMONIA Study Sgroup. Effect of
symbiotic preparations on constipated irritable bowel syndrome symptoms. Acta Biomed.
2007 Aug;78(2):111-6. Accessed February 4, 2008.
3. Bekkali NL, Bongers ME, Van den Berg MM, Liem O, Benninga MA. The role of a
probiotics mixture in the treatment of childhood constipation: a pilot study. Nutr J. 2007
Aug 4;6:17. Accessed February 4, 2008.
4. Bartram HP, Scheppach W, Gerlach S, Ruckdeschel G, Kelber E, Kasper H. Does
yogurt enriched with Bifidobacterium longum affect colonic microbiology and fecal
metabolites in health subjects? Am J Clin Nutr. 1994 Feb;59(2):428-32. Accessed
February 4, 2008.