Metabolism and Bioavailability of Prebiotics

● Prebiotics are non digestible by the host but may serves as substrate for intestinal
microorganisms.
● They are likely to have a positive effect on the host by stimulating the growth or activity
of certain bacteria present.
● Prebiotics are a group of nutrients that are degrade by gut microbiome.
● The term Prebiotic was introduced by Gibson and Roberforid in 1995.

Prebiotics
● Prebiotics was described as` nondigestible food ingredient that beneficially affects the
host by selectively stimulating the growth or activity of one or a limited number ofbacteria
in the colon and thus improve s the host health.’
● According to this definition ,only a few compounds of carbohydrate group , such as short
and long chain beta - fructans, lactose and GOS ,can be classified as Prebiotics.
● Probiotics are living microorganisms that are intended to have health benefits when
consumed or applied to the body .They can be found in yogurt and other fermented foods
dietary supplement and beauty products.
The criteria used to classify a compound as a prebiotic:
1. It should be resistant to acidic pH of stomach, cannot be hydrolysed by mammalian
enzymes, and also should not be absorbed in the gastrointestinal tract.
2. It can be fermented by intestinal microbiota.
3. The growth and/or activity of the intestinal bacteria can be selectively stimulated by this
compound and this process improves host’s health.
How do it works
1. Increase a number of Bifidobacterium and lactic acid bacteria.
2. Effect on the metabolism of lipids.
3. Suppression of putrefactive bacteria.
4. Growth of Bifidobacterium.
5. It helps to lower colon cancer risk.
 Uses of prebiotics
• Improve immune function in both the gut and body.
• Establish a healthier balance of bacteria in the gut.
• Promote regular bowel movements.
• Reduces the risk of an intestinal infection.
• Enhance bone density and increase calcium absorption.
• Increase in mineral absorption and improvement of bone health.
 METABOLISM
• The mechanisms by which Prebiotic oligosaccharides are selectively metabolised by
beneficial microorganisms of the gut are still under study.
Possible mechanisms:
1. Probiotic microorganisms possess cell associated glycosidases which allow degradation of
prebiotic oligosaccharides.
• These enzymes hydrolyse monosaccharides from the non reducing end of the
oligosaccharides,which are then absorbed by the probiotics, rather than other
microoorganisms in the mixed culture community in the human colon
• For example ,B.infantis possess cell associated β fructofuranosidases that act by
hydrolysis of monosaccharides to release monomeric fructose molecules ,which are then
transported into the bacterium.
• The bacteria then ferment the carbohydrate to produce Short Chain Fatty Acids.
2. The second mechanism is the ability of probiotics microorganisms to take oligosaccharides
and metabolise them internally
Example-B.lactis,L.Plantarum

BIOAVAILABILITY

• The absorption of a nutrient describes the process by which the nutrient is transported
from the gastrointestinal lumen, across the intestinal mucosa, to the serosa.
• The bioavailability of the nutrient , on the other hand defines that fraction of the ingested
nutrient that is utilised for normal physiological functions or storage.
• Bioavailability is that proportion which is absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract.
• Prebiotics enhance mineral absorption.
• Calcium in food occurs as salts or associated with other dietary constituents in the form of
complexes of calcium ions.
• Calcium must be released in soluble form.
• Once in soluble form, calcium is absorbed by two routes, transcellular and paracellular
transport.
 Transcellular Pathway
• Is a multi-step process, involving the entry of luminal Ca ions across the microvillar
membrane into the erythrocyte, then movement through the cytosol and eventually into
the general circulation.
• Does not require expenditure of energy.
• Ca diffusion is helped by Ca binding protein, calbindin D9k.

Paracellular Pathway
• This route involves a passive transport through the tight junctions between the mucosal
cells.
• It is non-saturable essentially independent of nutritional and physiological regulation, and
is concentration dependent.
• Some debate still persists as to whether indeed the paracellular pathway is vitamin D
dependent.
• When dietary calcium is abundant, the paracellular pathway is thought to be predominant.