Recent advances in prebiotics: Classification, mechanisms, and health applications Original paper

What was reviewed?

This review focuses on recent advances in prebiotics, including their classification, mechanisms of action, and health applications. It explores various types of prebiotics, such as inulin, fructooligosaccharides (FOS), galactooligosaccharides (GOS), human milk oligosaccharides (HMOs), and resistant starches, as well as emerging prebiotics like polyphenols. The review also discusses new technologies like microencapsulation and synbiotics, which combine prebiotics with probiotics to enhance their health benefits. Additionally, it highlights recent clinical evidence supporting the role of prebiotics in digestive health, metabolic regulation, immune function, and mental health.

Who was reviewed?

The review assesses a broad spectrum of research studies on prebiotics, including their classification, mechanisms of action, and health outcomes. It examines clinical trials, animal studies, and laboratory-based research on various prebiotics and their effects on gut microbiota, metabolic disorders, immune function, and mental health. It also reviews technological advancements, such as microencapsulation and the development of synbiotics, and evaluates the regulatory frameworks surrounding prebiotics.

What were the most important findings?

One of the most important findings of the review is the expanded definition of prebiotics, now including non-digestible food components that selectively modulate gut microbiota. Traditional prebiotics like inulin and FOS have been shown to improve digestive health by promoting the growth of beneficial bacteria, particularly Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus. These bacteria produce short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) like butyrate, which have anti-inflammatory properties and support gut barrier function. The review also discusses emerging prebiotics, including HMOs and polyphenols, which have demonstrated promising effects on gut health, immune modulation, and even brain function through the gut-brain axis. Synbiotics, combinations of prebiotics and probiotics, have shown enhanced benefits in treating conditions like IBS and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). The review also emphasizes the need for personalized nutrition strategies, acknowledging that individual variations in gut microbiota can influence prebiotic efficacy. Innovations in delivery systems, like microencapsulation, are also poised to improve the stability and bioavailability of prebiotics, enhancing their therapeutic potential.

What are the greatest implications of this review?

The greatest implications of this review are for both clinical applications and future research. Clinically, prebiotics have the potential to be integrated into treatment plans for a variety of conditions, such as gastrointestinal disorders, metabolic diseases, and mental health conditions like depression and anxiety. The review highlights how prebiotics can be used to restore a healthy gut microbiota, which plays a key role in maintaining systemic health. Additionally, the exploration of synbiotics offers a new avenue for enhancing the efficacy of prebiotics. From a research perspective, the review calls for more studies on the personalized application of prebiotics, based on an individual’s unique microbiome. The findings also suggest that future innovations in prebiotic formulation and delivery systems, such as microencapsulation, will make prebiotics more accessible and effective as therapeutic agents. Regulatory bodies will need to establish clearer guidelines for prebiotics to ensure consumer safety and promote standardized clinical applications.