Abstract: Bifidobacteria, a representative class of probiotics in the human intestine, have been being a hot field for intensive study for their nutritional, antibacterial, immunomodulatory, anticancer, antitumor and other physiological regulatory functions. Gut-associated diseases include inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), diarrhea, colon cancer, rectal cancer, et al. The aetiology of these diseases is currently not well understood. Traditional medications for these diseases are not only unsatisfactory, but have side effects as well. This paper reviews mainly domestic and international advances in recent research on the physiological regulatory function of Bifidobacterium and its role in modulating and improving gut-associated diseases.

Key words: Bifidobacteria, inflammatory bowel disease, irritable bowel syndrome, diarrhea, colon/rectum cancer