I wonder what foods are a good source for Bifidobacterium longum 1714 ? The gut brain axis is fascinating for the future.
Also, here's a general Wiki piece on Bifidobacterium longum (not specially the 1714 one)
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bifidobacterium_longum
Hi Colm,
I , too, is very interested in the developments of this new field of probiotics research. I will keep an eye on new results, in particular for "psychobiotics", strains that show benefits for mood and emotional well-being.
When there is research on a specific strain of probiotics that has a specific number ID like "1714", usually a company has a medical patent for that strain. So, if you want this exact strain, you will have to look for the OTC probiotics capsules this company will put on the market. It works that way because the company wants to get money back from what they have invested in the research.
The twist is, it may happen that this particular strain leads to better clinical results, but that does not mean that another Bifidobacterium longum strain will show no benefits. And, usually, the patented brands backed by clinical research are more expensive, due to the research cost, the publicity cost, and the cost for sending representatives in physicians offices in order to make their product known, and show that it is backed by scientific studies. In the long run, it may be more profitable for the company, especially if physicians recommend their specific product to patients, usually resulting in them going for this exact brand name. All that is ok, health is a business, after all, like any other business.
For example, you can find on pharmacies shelves the Align brand, a probiotics specialty aiming at the relief and management of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). The particular strain you find in it is exclusive to this company ( Bifidobacterium longum subsp. infantis 35624 ). That does not mean that other, high quality probiotics will no be beneficial for IBS.
In the meantime, I use my multi-strains probiotics mix. At the least, I recommend those taking probiotics to make sure they contains both Bifidobacterium strains, which have a preference for the large intestine, and Lactobacillus strains, that will colonize the small intestine. Having both, you cover the whole length of your guts.