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10.3.3 Therapeutic Use
Prebiotics are antimicrobial, anticarcinogenic, hypolipidemic in nature with few
benefits in diabetes mellitus (Gibson and Roberfroid 1995). It also possesses glucose modulatory and antiosteoporotic properties. It is successfully used for curing
constipation and inflammatory bowel diseases. It exerts favorable lipid effects by
absorption and balance of minerals and also may promote the absorption of minerals in colon. In supplemented infant formulas, it benefits an infant who is not receiving the mother’s milk.
10.4 Synbiotics
When a product contains both probiotics and prebiotics it is termed as “synbiotics”.
This word implies synergy i.e., acting together (Markowiak and Slizewska 2017).
Gibson introduced the concept when he postulated about the additional benefits of
prebiotics when combined with probiotics. He claimed that the combination might
be more active in preventing GIT disorders compared to a probiotic or prebiotic
when used alone. Synbiotics therefore, were developed so that the prebiotic component helps the probiotic microorganism grow and overcome possible survival difficulties. The probiotics use the prebiotics as a food source, which allows the
probiotics to survive for a longer period of time inside the GIT than would otherwise be possible. And this is based on evidences that show improvement of the
probiotic bacteria’s survival when it passes the upper intestinal tract. H 2 O 2 , pH,
organic acids, oxygen, moisture and stress are among several factors that have been
shown to affect the viability of probiotics especially in dairy products like yogurts
(Pandey et al. 2015). Synergism also acts to provide more efficient implantation in
the colon of live microbial dietary supplements as well as stimulating the growth of
probiotics. A probiotic needs its food and a prebiotic fuel for its perfect survival in
the GIT. But it is important that in order to have a beneficial effect on human health,
prebiotic compounds should selectively stimulate the growth of probiotics and not
stimulate other microorganisms. A combination of Lactobacillus or Bifidobacterium
genus bacteria with FOS (fructooligosaccharides) is the most common example of
a synbiotic.
10.4.1 Selection Criteria
The great challenge is to determine the best probiotic and prebiotic combination for
each disease setting and each individual. If one should combine probiotics and prebiotics which have demonstrated individual benefits, the combination should show
additive effects. A structured approach is warranted to be able to come up with the
S. Palai et al.
10.3.3 Therapeutic Use
Prebiotics are antimicrobial, anticarcinogenic, hypolipidemic in nature with few
benefits in diabetes mellitus (Gibson and Roberfroid 1995). It also possesses glucose modulatory and antiosteoporotic properties. It is successfully used for curing
constipation and inflammatory bowel diseases. It exerts favorable lipid effects by
absorption and balance of minerals and also may promote the absorption of minerals in colon. In supplemented infant formulas, it benefits an infant who is not receiving the mother’s milk.
10.4 Synbiotics
When a product contains both probiotics and prebiotics it is termed as “synbiotics”.
This word implies synergy i.e., acting together (Markowiak and Slizewska 2017).
Gibson introduced the concept when he postulated about the additional benefits of
prebiotics when combined with probiotics. He claimed that the combination might
be more active in preventing GIT disorders compared to a probiotic or prebiotic
when used alone. Synbiotics therefore, were developed so that the prebiotic component helps the probiotic microorganism grow and overcome possible survival difficulties. The probiotics use the prebiotics as a food source, which allows the
probiotics to survive for a longer period of time inside the GIT than would otherwise be possible. And this is based on evidences that show improvement of the
probiotic bacteria’s survival when it passes the upper intestinal tract. H 2 O 2 , pH,
organic acids, oxygen, moisture and stress are among several factors that have been
shown to affect the viability of probiotics especially in dairy products like yogurts
(Pandey et al. 2015). Synergism also acts to provide more efficient implantation in
the colon of live microbial dietary supplements as well as stimulating the growth of
probiotics. A probiotic needs its food and a prebiotic fuel for its perfect survival in
the GIT. But it is important that in order to have a beneficial effect on human health,
prebiotic compounds should selectively stimulate the growth of probiotics and not
stimulate other microorganisms. A combination of Lactobacillus or Bifidobacterium
genus bacteria with FOS (fructooligosaccharides) is the most common example of
a synbiotic.
10.4.1 Selection Criteria
The great challenge is to determine the best probiotic and prebiotic combination for
each disease setting and each individual. If one should combine probiotics and prebiotics which have demonstrated individual benefits, the combination should show
additive effects. A structured approach is warranted to be able to come up with the
S. Palai et al.