An overview of the health effects of prebiotics and probiotics and how they work

It's hard to keep up with everything that's going on in probiotics and prebiotics research today. Five world-class scientists in the field summarize the clinical applications and human use of prebiotics and probiotics.

With so much coverage of the effectiveness of probiotics and prebiotics as a way to improve human health and well-being, it's hard to keep up with everything that's going on in the field. 

A recent narrative review written by five world-leading scientists in the field reporting host health and future goals for clinical application and use of prebiotics and probiotics in humans is summarized including the mechanism. 

In terms of nutritional and health effects, prebiotics and probiotics are among the most closely studied tools that target the gut microbiota. Lactobacillus, Bifidobacterium, and Saccharomyces strains have a long history of being used safely and effectively as a probiotic. Clinical benefits of probiotics in children and adults may be seen under the following conditions:

Inflammatory bowel;

infant colic

Neonatal sepsis.

acute diarrhea;

Diarrhea associated with Clostridium hard

The protective and therapeutic effects of probiotics on these conditions may be mediated by altering the composition or function of the gut microbiota. This is done by including antibacterial production, cross-feeding, and substrate conversion for other symbiotic microorganisms, which is one of the most extensively studied means of the effect of microorganisms. 

The mechanism of action of other probiotics is also reasonable, including interaction with host cells (regulation of the immune system, improvement of the integrity of the intestinal barrier, etc. ), resistance to colonization, formation of enzymes, and neurochemicals. ..

Indeed, probiotics can act through a wide range of mechanisms that are not necessarily directly related to direct effects on the resident microbial flora. This does not mean that if probiotics do not settle in the human digestive system, this does not mean that they are ineffective.

But what about the future? On the horizon, there is potential for newly established recombinant strains and the next generation of candidate probiotics, including Rosebria, Akkermansia, Propionibacterium, and Phycaribacterium species. 

Both glucans and fructans show health benefits when it comes to prebiotics, which is selectively used by host microorganisms and are defined as substrates that provide health benefits. 

However, the evidence for prebiotic interventions is weaker than that reported for probiotics. Two of the most closely studied prebiotic indications are protection against infection when infant formula is administered and improvement of defecation function in healthy adults. 

The mechanisms of action by which prebiotics can provide health benefits have been tested in vitro and animal models, including protection against pathogens, immune modulation, increased mineral absorption, improved gut function, and metabolic effects.  It includes effects on satiety.

Other substrates, such as polyphenols and polyunsaturated fatty acids, have the potential to exert prebiotic effects and thus hold promise for the future. Promising results from prebiotic applications also include increased satiety, reduced energy intake, and body fat mass, and improved postprandial glucose response.

In addition, the author mentions the use of prebiotics and probiotics outside of intestinal effects, such as the oral cavity, vaginal canal, and skin. Vegetables rich in inulin-type fructans are also associated with increased satiety in healthy adults and reduced thirst for sweet and savory foods.

An important quick message from the author is that the use of prebiotics and prebiotics by healthcare professionals and consumers should be based on evidence from randomized trials.  Not all products have been validated, and differences in the gut microbiota do not mean changes lead to improved health, so make decisions backed by reliable studies and clinical applications, and it is important to keep them updated for use. 

In addition, the authors shifting research in this area from traditional probiotics to new targets (such as anti-adhesion molecules) and beneficial gut bacteria that are not currently used as probiotics (such as butyric acid producers), underscores the need.  Increasing use of high-throughput sequencing technologies is being used more widely, but given the overall functional potential of microbial flora as assessed by transcription, metabolomics, and proteomics analysis, to improve health.  Clinical translation of the role of targeting the intestinal flora has also been improved.

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