Prebiotics: A Review

Inulin-type prebiotics--a review: part 1.

This article is part 1 of a two-part review of inulin-type prebiotics. Prebiotics are a category of nutritional compounds grouped together by the ability to promote the growth of specific beneficial (probiotic) gut bacteria. Inulin-type prebiotics contain fructans of the inulin-type. Fructans are a category of nutritional compounds that encompasses naturally occurring plant oligo- and polysacch...

Prebiotics: A Review of Therapeutic Potential

Prebiotics are non-digestible food ingredient that beneficially affects the host by selectively stimulating the growth and/or activity of one or a limited number of bacteria in the colon. Prebiotics are reported for various activities, particularly for protective role in colon cancer and inflammatory intestinal conditions, immune modulation, curbing obesity, metal sequestering, glucose intolera...

Bacteria in Oral Health – Probiotics and Prebiotics A Review

Gastrointestinal effects of prebiotics.

The defining effect of prebiotics is to stimulate selectively the growth of bifidobacteria and lactobacilli in the gut and, thereby, increase the body's natural resistance to invading pathogens. Prebiotic carbohydrates may also have additional, less specific, benefits because they are fermented in the large intestine. The prebiotic carbohydrates that have been evaluated in humans at the present...

Pregnancy outcomes in women taking probiotics or prebiotics: a systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND Probiotics are living microorganisms that, when administered in adequate amounts, confer a health benefit. It has been speculated that probiotics might help prevent preterm birth, but in two previous systematic reviews possible major increases in this risk have been suggested. Our objective was to perform a systematic review and meta-analysis of the risk of preterm birth and other ad...