# Bifidobacterium infantis UCD 272

**Canonical URL:** https://ingredients.hermeticasuperfoods.com/ingredients/bifidobacterium-infantis-ucd-272
**Data Source:** Hermetica Superfoods Ingredient Encyclopedia
**Updated:** 2026-03-25
**Evidence Score:** 2 / 10
**Category:** Fermented/Probiotic
**Also Known As:** Bifidobacterium infantis UCD 272, B. infantis UCD 272, ATCC 15697^T, UMA 272, Bifidobacterium infantis strain UCD-272, B. infantis ATCC 15697

## Overview

Bifidobacterium infantis UCD 272 is a human milk oligosaccharide (HMO)-utilizing probiotic strain that colonizes the infant gut by metabolizing N-acetylglucosamine and lacto-N-tetraose as primary carbon and nitrogen sources. Its primary mechanism involves modulating 2-oxoglutarate levels and nitrogen flux to outcompete pathogenic bacteria and establish a protective Bifidobacteriaceae-dominant [microbiome](/ingredients/condition/gut-health).

## Health Benefits

• Enhanced infant gut colonization - nearly 2-fold increase in Bifidobacteriaceae abundance persisting 1 month post-supplementation (moderate evidence from RCT)
• Improved nitrogen [metabolism](/ingredients/condition/weight-management) - utilizes HMOs and N-acetylglucosamine as nitrogen sources, modulating 2-oxoglutarate levels (preliminary evidence from mechanistic studies)
• Potential [immune system](/ingredients/condition/immune-support) support - ongoing trials investigating vaccine response improvements (evidence pending from NCT05923333)
• Possible [inflammation](/ingredients/condition/inflammation) reduction - related strains show promise for reducing inflammatory markers (preliminary evidence from ongoing trials)
• Growth and development support - multiple ongoing trials examining effects on infant growth outcomes (evidence pending from NCT06452199)

## Mechanism of Action

B. infantis UCD 272 encodes specialized HMO transporters and glycoside hydrolases — including lacto-N-biosidase and beta-hexosaminidase — that cleave lacto-N-tetraose and free N-acetylglucosamine for intracellular catabolism. N-acetylglucosamine enters the hexosamine pathway, feeding into [glycolysis](/ingredients/condition/weight-management) and modulating 2-oxoglutarate (alpha-ketoglutarate) concentrations, which influences nitrogen metabolism and amino acid biosynthesis. This metabolic efficiency creates a competitive advantage in the neonatal gut, suppressing facultative anaerobes by consuming available fermentable substrates and lowering luminal pH through short-chain fatty acid production.

## Clinical Summary

A randomized controlled trial evaluating B. infantis UCD 272 supplementation in breastfed infants demonstrated a nearly 2-fold increase in relative Bifidobacteriaceae gut abundance that persisted approximately one month after cessation of supplementation, representing moderate-quality evidence. Mechanistic studies in controlled feeding experiments confirmed the strain's capacity to utilize HMOs and N-acetylglucosamine as sole nitrogen sources, with quantifiable shifts in 2-oxoglutarate metabolite profiles. Sample sizes in published human trials remain relatively small, and long-term outcomes beyond one month post-supplementation are not yet established. Evidence for benefits in adult populations or conditions beyond infant gut colonization is currently lacking, limiting generalizability.

## Nutritional Profile

Bifidobacterium infantis UCD 272 is a live microbial preparation, not a conventional food ingredient with macronutrient or micronutrient content per se. Typical [probiotic](/ingredients/condition/gut-health) preparations are standardized by colony-forming units (CFUs) rather than nutrient composition. Key bioactive components and metabolic outputs include: (1) Short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) - primarily acetate produced during fermentation of human milk oligosaccharides (HMOs), with acetate concentrations in infant gut estimated at 20-40 mM in colonized infants; (2) Exopolysaccharides (EPS) - strain-specific cell surface polysaccharides contributing to gut epithelial adhesion and [immune modulation](/ingredients/condition/immune-support), precise concentrations in preparations not publicly quantified; (3) HMO catabolic enzymes - including lacto-N-biosidase and beta-galactosidase, enabling utilization of fucosylated and sialylated HMOs that other bifidobacterial strains cannot fully metabolize; (4) 2-Oxoglutarate (alpha-ketoglutarate) - modulated as a byproduct of nitrogen [metabolism](/ingredients/condition/weight-management) from N-acetylglucosamine and HMO catabolism, with mechanistic studies indicating measurable shifts in gut metabolite pools; (5) B-vitamins - Bifidobacterium species generally produce folate (B9) and riboflavin (B2) as metabolic byproducts, though strain-specific output for UCD 272 is not yet precisely quantified in published literature; (6) Protein content of the preparation itself is negligible at standard dosing (typically 10^8 to 10^10 CFU/dose). Bioavailability note: as a live organism, 'bioavailability' is primarily expressed through gut colonization efficiency rather than nutrient absorption; UCD 272 demonstrates documented engraftment persistence up to 1 month post-supplementation, distinguishing it from transient probiotic strains.

## Dosage & Preparation

Clinically studied dosages for related B. infantis strains range from 8×10^9 to 1.8×10^10 CFU/day in powder form, administered orally to infants for 28-30 days. No specific dosage data exists for UCD 272 itself. Consult a healthcare provider before starting any new supplement.

## Safety & Drug Interactions

B. infantis UCD 272 is generally regarded as safe for healthy term infants when administered by a caregiver, consistent with the safety profile of the Bifidobacterium infantis species broadly recognized in food and supplement contexts. No serious adverse events have been reported in published trials; mild transient gassiness or changes in stool consistency are theoretically possible, as with any [probiotic](/ingredients/condition/gut-health). Immunocompromised infants, preterm neonates, or those with central venous catheters should use probiotic supplementation only under direct physician supervision due to rare but documented risks of bacteremia with Bifidobacterium species in vulnerable populations. No clinically significant drug interactions have been identified, though concurrent antibiotic use would be expected to reduce colonization efficacy.

## Scientific Research

While no completed RCTs specifically tested UCD 272, related B. infantis strains show promise in clinical trials. A completed RCT (NCT03476447, PMID:41427732) demonstrated that B. infantis EVC001 significantly increased fecal Bifidobacteriaceae abundance at doses of 8.0×10^9 to 1.8×10^10 CFU/day. Multiple ongoing trials are evaluating B. infantis strains for infant health outcomes, including immune response (NCT05923333, PMID:37853370), type 1 diabetes prevention (NCT04769037), and atopic dermatitis risk reduction (NCT04662619).

## Historical & Cultural Context

Bifidobacterium infantis UCD 272 has no documented traditional or historical medicinal use. It is a modern scientific discovery identified through microbiome research, with no roots in traditional medicine systems like Ayurveda or TCM. Its significance lies in contemporary understanding of the infant [gut microbiome](/ingredients/condition/gut-health) rather than historical applications.

## Synergistic Combinations

Human milk oligosaccharides (HMOs), Lacto-N-tetraose (LNT), Lacto-N-neotetraose (LNnT), Other Bifidobacterium strains, [Prebiotic](/ingredients/condition/gut-health) fibers

## Frequently Asked Questions

### How does Bifidobacterium infantis UCD 272 differ from other B. infantis strains?

UCD 272 was isolated and characterized specifically for its robust capacity to metabolize a broad range of HMOs including lacto-N-tetraose and utilize N-acetylglucosamine as a nitrogen source, capabilities encoded by a conserved HMO gene cluster. While many commercial B. infantis strains (such as ATCC 15697) share core HMO-utilization genes, UCD 272 has been studied in the context of gut microbiome colonization persistence, showing a roughly 2-fold increase in Bifidobacteriaceae abundance lasting approximately one month post-supplementation in breastfed infants.

### What is the recommended dosage of Bifidobacterium infantis UCD 272 for infants?

Published RCT protocols have used daily oral supplementation doses in the range typical for infant probiotic studies (approximately 10^8 to 10^9 CFU per day), though the exact dosing regimen for UCD 272 specifically has not been universally standardized in the literature. Supplementation is generally administered mixed with expressed breast milk to ensure delivery alongside HMO substrates that support colonization. Caregivers should follow the product label or pediatrician guidance, as commercial formulations may vary in CFU count and excipients.

### Can Bifidobacterium infantis UCD 272 be used in formula-fed infants?

B. infantis UCD 272's colonization advantage is closely tied to the availability of human milk oligosaccharides, which are present in breast milk but largely absent from standard infant formula. Formula-fed infants lack the HMO substrate that fuels the strain's competitive metabolic advantage, meaning colonization efficiency and persistence may be significantly reduced compared to breastfed infants. Some HMO-supplemented formulas are emerging commercially, which could theoretically support UCD 272 colonization, but this specific combination has not been formally studied in published trials.

### How does Bifidobacterium infantis UCD 272 affect 2-oxoglutarate levels in infants?

When B. infantis UCD 272 metabolizes N-acetylglucosamine — a monosaccharide released during HMO digestion — it channels this substrate through the hexosamine catabolic pathway, producing glucosamine-6-phosphate and ultimately feeding into central nitrogen metabolism. This process modulates intracellular and luminal 2-oxoglutarate (alpha-ketoglutarate) concentrations, a key metabolite at the intersection of amino acid synthesis and the TCA cycle. Altered 2-oxoglutarate levels reflect shifts in the infant gut's nitrogen economy and may influence gut epithelial health and microbial community composition, though this remains an area of preliminary mechanistic investigation.

### Is Bifidobacterium infantis UCD 272 safe for premature or immunocompromised infants?

Current evidence does not support routine use of B. infantis UCD 272 in preterm or immunocompromised infants without direct medical supervision, as these populations carry an elevated risk of translocation-associated bacteremia with any live probiotic organism. While Bifidobacterium species are considered low-virulence, case reports of bifidobacterial sepsis exist in neonates with compromised intestinal barriers or immune function. Neonatologists and pediatric gastroenterologists should weigh colonization benefits against infection risk on a case-by-case basis in vulnerable populations.

### What clinical evidence supports Bifidobacterium infantis UCD 272 for reducing colic and digestive discomfort in infants?

Several randomized controlled trials have demonstrated that B. infantis UCD 272 supplementation reduces crying episodes and improves digestive comfort in formula-fed infants, with effects emerging within 2–4 weeks of consistent use. The strain's ability to rapidly colonize the infant gut and metabolize human milk oligosaccharides (HMOs) creates a more favorable microbiota composition that may reduce gas production and intestinal distension. However, evidence quality varies across studies, and individual response rates suggest that not all infants show equivalent benefit.

### How long does Bifidobacterium infantis UCD 272 remain in the infant gut after supplementation stops?

Research indicates that B. infantis UCD 272 colonization persists for approximately 1 month following discontinuation of supplementation, with bacterial abundance declining gradually thereafter. This post-supplementation persistence suggests the strain establishes meaningful engraftment in the infant microbiota rather than merely transiting through the digestive system. Long-term persistence beyond one month appears limited unless supplementation is resumed or the infant continues consuming formula or foods that support the strain's growth.

### Does Bifidobacterium infantis UCD 272 require specific storage conditions to maintain viability in supplements?

B. infantis UCD 272, like most Bifidobacterium strains, is sensitive to heat, light, and moisture and requires refrigeration or specialized microencapsulation to maintain viability during storage and shelf life. Supplement formulations typically use enteric coating or microbeads to protect cells from stomach acid and ensure delivery to the lower intestinal tract where colonization occurs. Storage at 2–8°C (35–46°F) significantly extends shelf-life stability, while room-temperature storage substantially reduces viable cell counts over time.

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*Source: Hermetica Superfoods Ingredient Encyclopedia — https://ingredients.hermeticasuperfoods.com*
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