Prebiotics, probiotics and human gut microbiology

• Published in: International dairy journal Vol. 9; no. 1; pp. 53 - 61
• Main Authors: Fooks, Laura J., Fuller, Roy, Gibson, Glenn R.
• Format: Journal Article Conference Proceeding
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford Elsevier Ltd 1999; Elsevier Science
• Subjects: Animal, plant and microbial ecology; Biological and medical sciences; Colonic bacteria; Food industries; Food microbiology; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Microbial ecology; Normal microflora of man and animals. Rumen; Prebiotic; Probiotic; Synbiotic; Probiotic; Synbiotic; Colonic bacteria; Prebiotic; Human; Gut; Lipids; Review; Malignant tumor; Blood; Prebiotics; Microorganism resistance; Health food; Industrial microbiology; Food industry; Intestinal disease; Associated microflora; Public health
• ISSN: 0958-6946; 1879-0143
• DOI: 10.1016/S0958-6946(99)00044-8

Because of its resident microbiota, the human colon is one of the body’s most metabolically active organs. Gut bacteria predominantly ferment undigested food materials. The nature of the fermentation may have different health consequences. For example, the end products of carbohydrate metabolism are benign, whilst proteolytic metabolites may be toxic. The use of diet to fortify certain gut flora components is a popular current aspect of functional food sciences. In this context probiotics, prebiotics and synbiotics all have a significant role. Probiotics are live microbial additions to the diet; prebiotics are foodstuffs that have a selective metabolism in the hindgut, whilst synbiotics are combinations of the two approaches. It has been demonstrated that each of these dietary intervention routes can have an effect on the gut flora ‘balance’. Whilst the real health advantages remain elusive, the use of gut microflora management has a number of potentially very important effects with resistance to pathogens, effects on gut tumours and reduction in blood lipids holding much promise. The advent of molecular tools into gut microbiology, now offer the means to more fully explore the gut biodiversity as well as reliably track changes in response to diet. The near future will determine whether the full potential of probiotics, prebiotics and synbiotics can be realised.