Prebiotics and probiotics are functional foods that can have a positive impact on human health
As advances in microbiology, and food sciences generally, continue to expand rapidly, prebiotics, probiotics, their characteristics and health benefits become a more and more interesting field for scientific research.
Their primary features and their impact on human health will be discussed in this essay.
Prebiotics-definition and sources
According to Gibson and Roberfroid (1995) prebiotics are “nondigestible food ingredients that beneficially affect the host by selectively stimulating the growth and/or activity of one or a limited number of bacteria species already resident in the colon, and thus attempt to improve host health”. ISAPP has defined prebiotics as “dietary ingredients that result in specific changes in the composition and/or activity of the gastrointestinal microbiota, thus conferring benefit(s) upon host health” (ISAPP, 2008). However, scientists continue to argue about the definition of prebiotics and Hutkins et al. (2016) suggested that a specific definition might not be necessary at this point mainly due to vast scientific progress in the field.
Prebiotics are usually found in chicories, onions, garlic, artichokes, fermented milk and cereals (Anadόn et al., 2010; Drakoularakou et al., 2011).
Genus Probiotic name
Lactobacilli L. acidophilus L. casei L. plantarum L. reuteri L. rhamnosus L. salivarus
Bifidobacteria B. breve B. longum B. lactis
Bacillus B.
Our formula also contains prebiotics. These guys are what feed the good microbes and help them repopulate. So, while the probiotic is kicking the bad microbes’ butt, our prebiotics, which use a unique combination of Mannan-oligosaccharide (don’t even try to pronounce it) feed the good guys helping them do their job more efficiently.
Coffee silverskin has prebiotic effect due to the presence of nondigestible polysaccharides such as arabinogalactans and galactomannans. An in vitro study demonstrated that concentration of bifidobacteria and lactobacilli, increased during hindgut fermentation because these microorganisms were capable to use coffee silverskin as a source of carbon and nitrogen. Mannooligosaccharides (MOS) can be obtained by thermal degradation of spent coffee grounds and increased Bifidobacterium and Eubacterium when subjects ingested 1 g∙day-1 of MOS for two weeks as well as improved frequency and days of defecation. Nodigestible polysaccharides promoted growth of Bifidobacterium by lowering pH via the production of short chain fatty acids, and low pH decreased
Dietary fiber is a source of carbohydrate that has benefits for intestinal health. It plays a role in the prevention of disease in the intestine and even throughout the body, such as obesity, type II diabetes, and cardiovascular disease (10). Furthermore, when the bacteria in the gut ferment the fiber, metabolites are produced, which benefit the body. Short chain fatty acids are one major end product of this carbohydrate metabolism, which act to lower the colon’s pH, inhibiting pathogenic bacteria from growing. Some other metabolites include lactate, succinate and formate. Lactate is converted to butyrate by the bacteria in the gut, which induces mucin synthesis, which is a glycoprotein that maintains the gut epithelium integrity. Butyrate also acts to prevent bacterial transport across the epithelium and increases tight junction assembly (11). What this means, is that the fermentation of fiber allows these beneficial metabolites to be produced, causing a cascade of reactions that promote health and gut integrity. This shows the complex beneficial interaction between gut microbiota and fiber intake and its role in promoting health.
More than a century ago the notion of microbiota working as a regulator for health and disease was already in use. They realized that consuming large amounts of fermented milk helped with their longevity. This began the foundation of probiotics. However, the oral probiotics that are used today are at a lower amount than what is contained in the colon. After cycling through the digestive system it is
The first article that was examined was “A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial: The Efficacy of Multispecies Probiotic Supplementation in Alleviating Symptoms of Irritable Bowl Syndome Associated with Constipation”. This article was written concerning a study that was done to examine the effectiveness of using probiotics to alleviate symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). The main symptom that was being examined was constipation but bloating, abdominal pain, abdominal cramps, and flatulence were also looked at. Patients with IBS have been shown to have microbiota in their gastrointestinal tract that is much less stable than the microbiota in a healthy adult. This imbalance leads to problems in the digestive system including the symptoms that have been previously listed. Probiotics that are typically found in the digestive tract could be used to alleviate symptoms and restore balance. However, the correct probiotic must be chosen in order to be beneficial to the patient because probiotics are species and system specific.
Participants (n: 100-150) will be acquired for this experiment from various course sections as previously described. Participants will first be given a preliminary questionnaire in order to exclude those who did not meet the inclusion criteria. Participants will then be asked to sign a consent form, allowing the potentially use of any data obtained. All participants will then be randomly assigned into two groups in a single-blind fashion; the two groups are: control and experimental. The control group will be given a placebo probiotic supplement in pill form while the experimental group will be given the probiotic supplement in pill form. Participants will then be asked to ingest one pill/day for the following two-week period; they
The use of the first form of microbe-based therapeutics, probiotics, is beneficial for preventing disease. These live microorganisms are known to strengthen the equilibrium of the gut flora by the development of healthy gut
The use of probiotics falls under the term “complementary and alternative medicine” (CAM), a term that encompasses a large number of different health care practices and products that are used with, or in place of, conventional medicine. CAM is the main focus of the National Center of Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH), a center within the National Institutes of Health, which is itself an agency of the U.S. Department of Health. [1] The NCCIH’s role is to define the usefulness and safety of CAM and the role it has on improving health and healthcare practices. [2] However, the NCCIH does not provide any regulation on the use of CAM practices or products.
Probiotics are ingestable microorganisms which gives the consumer a beneficial effect. First coined by the late eli Metchnikoff probiotics are described to be microorganisms which are ingested in small amount to increase the diversity of both flora and fauna inside the human body this reaction in turn affects the adaptation abilities for the human body to react to different surroundings, digest different things, or just improve the antibody or the mechanism that already exists in the human body.
Speaking with a professional scientist is a great way to learn about the wonders of biology. In order to complete the Ask a Scientist assignment, I chose to interview a family friend, Dr. Rosalind Hollingsworth, a leading researcher of Sanofi Pasteur’s influenza vaccination. Her research is focused mainly on the human immune system and viruses, and more specifically, the development of vaccinations that cure influenza.
Scott, Lara. (2016) Probiotics and health: Does the evidence support the clinical effectiveness of probiotics in line with current naturopathic prescribing practices? Journal of the Australian Traditional-Medicine Society, Vol. 22, No. 3, 136-138. Retrieved from:
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5). Probiotics are bacteria that are native to your digestive tract, which means, they are normally found in healthy small and large intestines and can influence the mucosal barrier (the inner lining of the digestive tract), which in turn can affect immune system functions (EczemaFree.org par. 2). Lack of a sufficient mucosal barrier allows food and environmental antigens to cross over into the blood stream, activating the immune system and leading to hyperactivity, which is the hallmark of eczema conditions (par. 2). This is an example of how usage of probiotics can improve conditions within the intestinal tract, and in turn reduce eczema symptoms. Unaltered probiotics such as Lactobacillus GG, with its anti-inflammatory powers, may help prevent the development of eczema and other allergic disorders (Sachs 230). The first clue that gut bacteria could play a role in risk for developing eczema came in the discovery that breastfed babies have a reduced incidence, prolonged onset and decreased severity to eczema
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Probiotics also referred as "good bacteria" are considered helpful in suppressing potentially detrimental bacteria and in strengthening the digestive tract.