Prevention and Control of Diseases by Use of Pro- and Prebiotics (Synbiotics)

Probiotics are microorganisms (bacteria or yeasts) that can reestablish and recolonize the human intestinal micro flora to give beneficial effect to a host. Prebiotics are the food ingredients that are nondigestible and affect the consumer by encouraging the number and activity of beneficial but selective colonic bacteria. The probiotics perform more efficiently in the presence of prebiotics, with the enhanced beneficial potential of live microorganisms having additional benefits of the prebiotic. Due to the concept, recently much research attention is focused on the combined use of probiotics and prebiotics, generally known as synbiotics, to get their synergistic health properties. This article provides an overview of possible synbiotic combinations, and their mode of action and health benefits upon consumption. In addition, research trends are also elaborated.     

乳酸菌代谢低聚果糖/菊粉途径及机理的研究进展

合生元又称合生素,指益生元与益生菌结合使用的生物制剂（微生态制剂）,近年来,越来越多研究表明合生元具有多种益处,益生元和益生菌的选择对其最终效果起着至关重要的作用。低聚果糖和菊粉是合生元中常见的益生元,可被肠道内的乳酸菌选择性吸收,通过促进益生菌增殖的方式来改善机体健康。本文综述了乳酸菌对低聚果糖和菊粉的代谢差异及代谢途径,并从分子水平阐述水解酶、转运系统、调控蛋白的作用机制,以期为探明乳酸菌调控低聚果糖和菊粉的代谢网络提供依据;同时总结了近年来低聚果糖/菊粉合生元的应用,为益生元与益生菌的进一步联用提供参考。     

Influence of functional food components on gut health

Intestinal epithelial cells (IECs) lining the gastrointestinal tract establish a barrier between external environments and the internal milieu. An intact intestinal barrier maintains gut health and overall good health of the body by preventing from tissue injury, pathogen infection and disease development. When the intestinal barrier function is compromised, bacterial translocation can occur. Our gut microbiota also plays a fundamentally important role in health, for example, by maintaining intestinal barrier integrity, metabolism and modulating the immune system, etc. Any disruption of gut microbiota composition (also termed dysbiosis) can lead to various pathological conditions. In short, intestinal barrier and gut microbiota are two crucial factors affecting gut health. The gastrointestinal tract is a complex environment exposed to many dietary components and commensal bacteria. Dietary components are increasingly recognized to play various beneficial roles beyond basic nutrition, resulting in the development of the functional food concepts. Various dietary modifiers, including the consumption of live bacteria (probiotics) and ingestible food constituents such as prebiotics, as well as polyphenols or synbiotics (combinations of probiotics and prebiotics) are the most well characterized dietary bioactive compounds and have been demonstrated to beneficially impact the gut health and the overall well-being of the host. In this review we depict the roles of intestinal epithelium and gut microbiota in mucosal defence responses and the influence of certain functional food components on the modulation of gut health, with a particular focus on probiotics, prebiotics and polyphenols.     

乳酸菌合生元的研究进展

合生元(synbiotics)是由益生菌(probiotics)和益生元(prebiotics)组成的微生物制剂,可同时具有益生菌和益生元的作用,并以肠道为靶点位置发挥益生功能.乳酸菌(lactic acid bacteria,LAB)是肠道中最重要的益生菌成员,无论是用于商品化生产,还是用于基础研究,LAB是最广泛用...     

Evolutionary concepts in the functional biotics arena: a mini-review

Over the years, the attempts to elucidate the role of beneficial microorganisms in shaping human health are becoming fairly apparent. The functional impact conferred by such microbes is not only transmitted by viable cells or their metabolites but also through non-viable cells. Extensive research to unveil the protective action of such wonder bugs has resulted in categorizing the beneficial microflora and their bioactive metabolites into a variety of functional biotic concepts based on their intended applications in various forms. In the modern era, these are often termed as probiotics, prebiotics, synbiotics, postbiotics, next-generation probiotics, psychobiotics, oncobiotics, pharmabiotics, and metabiotics. Currently, the concept of traditional probiotics is being widened to include microbes beyond lactic acid bacteria. Indeed, this diversification has broadened the functional food portfolio from food to pharmaceuticals. In this context, the present review aims to summarize the existing biotic concepts and their differences thereof.     

Review Article: Technological Aspects of Prebiotics in Probiotic Fermented Milks

Prebiotics are food components that exert beneficial effects on health of the host, associated with modulation of the intestinal flora via stimulating the growth and/or activity of the probiotics. One of the recommended ways to maintain high viable numbers of probiotic bacteria in the intestine as well as in the probiotic fermented milk products until the time of consumption is via the use of prebiotics. These compounds can also affect sensory profile, physicochemical and rheological characteristics, and economic properties of probiotic fermented milk products. In this article, technological aspects of prebiotics (viability of probiotics in the product as well as the physicochemical, rheological, sensory, and economic characteristics of product) in probiotic fermented milks are reviewed.     

Prebiotics as functional foods: A review

Prebiotics are short chain carbohydrates that are non-digestible by digestive enzymes in humans and selectively enhance the activity of some groups of beneficial bacteria. In the intestine, prebiotics are fermented by beneficial bacteria to produce short chain fatty acids. Prebiotics also render many other health benefits in the large intestine such as reduction of cancer risk and increase calcium and magnesium absorption. Prebiotics are found in several vegetables and fruits and are considered functional food components which present significant technological advantages. Their addition improves sensory characteristics such as taste and texture, and enhances the stability of foams, emulsions and mouthfeel in a large range of food applications like dairy products and bread. This contribution reviews bioactives from food sources with prebiotic properties. Additionally, food application of bioactive prebiotics, stimulation of the viability of probiotics, health benefits, epidemiological studies, and safety concerns of prebiotics are also reviewed.     

Probiotics, prebiotics and probiotic products. Current status

This review contains information about eubiotics, probiotics and probiotical products. Such new definitions as prebiotics, synbiotics are described. Review considers characteristics of different kinds of probiotical substances and factors which provide normalization of intestinal microbial balance and related to probiotical action.     

微生态调节剂研究进展

对微生态调节剂的种类、特性、作用及其机理，以及微生态调节剂在医药、食品工业、饲料添加剂中的应用等方面的研究进展作了系统综述。     

Modulation of Intestinal Epithelial Defense Responses by Probiotic Bacteria

Probiotics are live microorganisms, which when administered in food confer numerous health benefits. In previous studies about beneficial effects of probiotic bacteria to health, particularly in the fields of intestinal mucosa defense responses, specific probiotics, in a strain-dependent manner, show certain degree of potential to reinforce the integrity of intestinal epithelium and/or regulate some immune components. The mechanism of probiotic action is an area of interest. Among all possible routes of modulation by probiotics of intestinal epithelial cell-mediated defense responses, modulations of intestinal barrier function, innate, and adaptive mucosal immune responses, as well as signaling pathways are considered to play important role in the intestinal defense responses against pathogenic bacteria. This review summarizes the beneficial effects of probiotic bacteria to intestinal health together with the mechanisms affected by probiotic bacteria: barrier function, innate, and adaptive defense responses such as secretion of mucins, defensins, trefoil factors, immunoglobulin A (IgA), Toll-like receptors (TLRs), cytokines, gut associated lymphoid tissues, and signaling pathways.     

Dietary fibres as "prebiotics": implications for colorectal cancer

A "prebiotic" is a nondigestible food ingredient whose beneficial effects on the host result from the selective stimulation of growth and/or activity of members of the bacterial community that inhabits the human bowel (the gut microbiota). Although much of the prebiotic literature focuses on nondigestible oligosaccharides, such as oligofructose, most dietary fibres that are fermentable carbohydrates could be considered as prebiotics. Early studies suggested that colonic bacteria were risk factors for colon cancer. However, altering the composition or metabolic activity of the bowel microbiota through the use of dietary fibre might be important in reducing the prevalence of colorectal cancer. Mechanisms for beneficial effects of prebiotics might include changing the activity of exogenous carcinogens through modulating metabolic activation and/or detoxification, or stimulating the production of the short-chain fatty acid, butyrate. However, modern analytical techniques suggest that an important consequence of a modified bacterial community could be a change in the expression not only of a range of different bacterial genes in bowel contents, but also in the bowel mucosa of the host. Analogous with observations with probiotics, the stimulation of cytokines and modification of immune responses could be important in producing beneficial effects. Compared with transitory effects of probiotics, the prebiotic action of fermentable carbohydrates potentially provide the opportunity for sustainable modulation of activity of the gut microbiota. However, their mechanisms of action in humans are speculative, and research aimed at providing an integrated view of the gut microbiota and dietary fibre nutrition of humans needs to be developed.     

Prebiotics, synbiotics and inflammatory bowel disease

The normal colonic microflora is intimately involved in the aetiology of inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) such as ulcerative colitis (UC) and Crohn's disease (CD). These conditions are often refractile to conventional treatments involving the employment of anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressant drugs, and this has led to a search for alternative therapies based on the use of probiotics, prebiotics and synbiotics. The majority of investigations in this area have been done with probiotics, and while there is increasing interest in the abilities of prebiotics and synbiotics to control the symptoms of IBD, very few randomised controlled trials have been reported. Although the results have been variable, human and animal studies have demonstrated that in many circumstances, these functional foods can alter the composition of the colonic microbiota, reduce inflammatory processes in the gut mucosa, and have the potential to induce disease remission. More work is needed to understand the effects of prebiotics and synbiotics on microbial communities in the gut, and their interactions with the host's immune system.     

益生元精准化研究进展

益生元在调节肠道菌群方面一直发挥着重要的作用。越来越多的研究数据、临床实验结果和报告表明益生 元在预防和干预治疗肠易激综合征、糖尿病、肥胖症等慢性代谢和免疫系统疾病方面均具有有益的效果。纵观精准 营养的发展趋势,可以预见益生元将对新兴的微生态健康医疗产业产生重要影响。本文通过回顾益生元最新的研究 发现和功能作用范例,着重探讨益生元概念的演变。对益生元生理作用机制的深入认识有助于定义和发展精准营养 分支之一的“精准益生元”概念。因此,有必要对益生元的特性、组成和结构进行更深入的研究,进一步探索益生 元、细菌种类、特定生理功能三者之间的关系。另外,在细胞生物学分子水平层面上明确益生元的作用机制将有助 于定制个性化益生元配方和营养摄入方案,从而促进与保障人类健康。     

Effectiveness of probiotics,prebiotics, and prebiotic‐like components in common functional foods

The bioactive ingredients in commonly consumed foods include, but are not limited to, prebiotics, prebiotic‐like components, probiotics, and postbiotics. The bioactive ingredients in functional foods have also been associated with beneficial effects on human health. For example, they aid in shaping of gut microflora and promotion of immunity. These functional components also contribute in preventing serious diseases such as cardiovascular malfunction and tumorigenesis. However, the specific mechanisms of these positive influences on human health are still under investigation. In this review, we aim to emphasize the major contents of probiotics, prebiotics, and prebiotic‐like components commonly found in consumable functional foods, and we present an overview of direct and indirect benefits they provide on human health. The major contributors are certain families of metabolites, specifically short‐chain fatty acids and polyunsaturated fatty acids produced by probiotics, and prebiotics, or prebiotic‐like components such as flavonoids, polyphenols, and vitamins that are found in functional foods. These functional ingredients in foods influence the gut microbiota by stimulating the growth of beneficial microbes and the production of beneficial metabolites that, in turn, have direct benefits to the host, while also providing protection from pathogens and maintaining a balanced gut ecosystem. The complex interactions that arise among functional food ingredients, human physiology, the gut microbiota, and their respective metabolic pathways have been found to minimize several factors that contribute to the incidence of chronic disease, such as inflammation oxidative stress.     

Association between the gut microbiota and mineral metabolism

The aim of this review is to present the most recent scientific evidence of interactions between the intestinal microbiota and minerals, and the effect of this interaction on the health of the host. The Web of Science database from the years 2013–2017 on this topic was reviewed. Numerous in vitro studies have shown that iron significantly affects the intestinal microbiota. However, Bifidobacteriaceae are capable of binding iron in the large intestine, thereby limiting the formation of free radicals synthesized in the presence of iron, and thus reducing the risk of colorectal cancer. Animal studies have revealed that supplementation with probiotics, prebiotics and synbiotics has a significant effect on bone calcium, phosphate and bone metabolism. The dynamic interaction between microbiota and zinc was shown. Human studies have provided evidence of the influence of probiotic bacteria on parathormone, calcium and phosphate levels and thus on bone resorption. Recent studies have produced new information mainly on the impact of the intestinal bacteria on the metabolism of calcium and iron. From a scientific perspective, the most urgent fields that remain to be investigated are the identification of all human gut microbes and new therapies targeting the interaction between intestinal bacteria and minerals. © 2017 Society of Chemical Industry     

口腔益生菌的研究现状

口腔是一个复杂而完整的微生态系统。生活方式、外源性致病菌等外源因子可扰乱口腔微生物组与其宿主之间的共生关系引发龋齿、牙周炎、牙龈炎、口臭等口腔疾病。益生菌是一类活的并对人类机体局部或全身性健康都具有有益作用的微生物。传统上,益生菌被广泛用于功能性食品、医药保健、饲料等各个领域,最常见的用途是治疗或预防胃肠道感染和疾病,改善肠道健康。近十年,各种研究表明益生菌可通过抑制致病菌生长,改善口腔微生物菌群,调节口腔免疫力等方式对各种口腔疾病产生积极的防治效果。作为一种新兴的机体健康维护概念,维护口腔健康的益生菌及其作用机制日益受到国内外学者的密切关注,综述了口腔益生菌在常见口腔疾病中的潜在作用机制,阐述了利用口腔益生菌在防治口腔疾病时所面临的重要问题,同时在口腔益生菌未来的发展趋势和开发方向等方面剖析如何更好地利用口腔益生菌驱动健康食品产业发展,以期为口腔益生菌的深入研究及其在食品工业中的开发应用提供相应参考。     

Lactobacilli as multifaceted probiotics with poorly disclosed molecular mechanisms

Lactic acid bacteria and more particularly lactobacilli have been used for the production of fermented foods for centuries. Several lactobacilli have been recognized as probiotics due to their wide range of health-promoting effects in humans. However, little is known about the molecular mechanisms underpinning their probiotic functions. Here we reviewed the main beneficial effects of lactobacilli and discussed, when the information is available, the molecular machinery involved in their probiotic function.Among the beneficial effects, lactobacilli can improve digestion, absorption and availability of nutrients. As an example, some strains are able to degrade carbohydrates such as lactose or α-galactosides that may cause abdominal pain. Furthermore, they can hydrolyze compounds that limit the bioavailability of minerals like tannin and phytate due to tannin acylhydrolase and phytase activities. In addition, it was shown that some lactobacilli strains can improve mineral absorption in Caco-2 cells. Lactobacilli can also contribute to improve the nutritional status of the host by producing B group vitamins. More recently, the role of lactobacilli in energy homeostasis, particularly in obese patients, is the object of an increased interest.Lactobacilli are also involved in the prevention of diseases. They have potential to prevent carcinogenesis through the modulation of enzymes involved in the xenobiotic pathway, and may prevent cardiovascular diseases such as hypertension through the production of a bioactive peptide that may have angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor activity. Lactobacilli are increasingly studied for the treatment of inflammatory bowel diseases and exhibit interesting potential in the reduction of pain perception. The ability of some strains to bind to intestinal cells, their pathogen-associated molecular patterns and the metabolites they produce confer interesting immunomodulatory effects. Finally, pathogenic fungi, virus or bacteria can be inhibited by probiotics. They can reinforce the intestinal barrier, simply occupying the ecological niche, or they can have an active role by synthesizing various metabolites inhibiting pathogen development.Lactobacilli have a long standing history with foods and humans but comparatively, their history as probiotics is recent. Their effects are investigated in in vitro and in vivo models leading sometimes to contradictory or controversial results that make necessary final demonstrations through clinical trials. Researches on molecular mechanisms involved in the beneficial effects reviewed here are necessary for a better understanding of these effects, but could also lead to the development of molecular tools to help the screening of the probiotic potential of lactobacilli that are common inhabitants of numerous fermented foods around the world.     

Review on potential non-dairy synbiotic beverages: a preliminary approach using legumes

In the past few years, certain functional foods have gained consumer acceptance like those containing synbiotics (a blend of both prebiotics and probiotics) in different food systems. Synbiotics enhance gut functionality and confer health benefits to humans. However, due to the limitations exerted by dairy-based matrices like lactose intolerance, milk allergies, limited shelf life and inclination towards veganism, consumer’s interest in non-dairy foods has increased. Among the non-dairy matrices, legumes (such as chickpeas, kidney beans, lupin) are the less explored areas with the majority focus on only soya beans. The present review gives brief information about the different research associating with various legume-based probiotics, prebiotics and synbiotic foods narrowing down specifically to beverages. The integration of such information will allow the researchers to explore product development using new prebiotic ingredients that have not been studied in much detail and hold an exceptional potential to be employed in the synbiotic food industry.     

Gut bacteria and health foods--the European perspective

Probiotics, prebiotics, and synbiotics aimed at improving intestinal health currently represent the largest segment of the functional foods market in Europe, Japan and Australia. Evidence continues to emerge demonstrating that these ingredients have the potential to improve human health in specific intestinal disorders. The European Commission, through its 5th Framework Programme, is presently focusing on a substantial effort in the science of the intestinal microbiota, its interaction with its host and methods to manipulate its composition and activity for the improvement of human health and well being. Eight multicentre and multidisciplinary research projects now cover a range of topics required for the development of efficacious probiotic foods, from understanding probiotic mechanisms at a molecular level; developing technologies to ensure delivery of stable products; and demonstrating safety and efficacy of specific probiotics in defined treatment targets. This concerted research effort promises to provide us with an enhanced understanding of the human intestinal microbiota's role in health and disease, and new approaches and products to tackle a variety of intestinal problems.     

益生菌缓解肥胖形成相关机制及研究进展

肥胖及相关代谢综合征已成为世界范围内的公共健康问题。研究表明,肠道菌群与肥胖的形成密切相关,肠道菌群失调导致脂代谢紊乱、肠道通透性及氧化应激等改变。益生菌(主要包括乳酸菌和双歧杆菌)是一类能对宿主生理功能产生有益作用的微生物,能在肠道中存活并定殖,改善肠道菌群紊乱,进一步缓解肥胖的形成。本文主要围绕益生菌对肥胖的干预作用及相关机制进行综述,以为肥胖相关的研究提供参考。