• World Health Organization:

– “live microorganisms which when administered in adequate

amounts confer a health benefit on the host”

• A bacterial strain that:

– Survives the stomach acid and bile
– Adheres to intestinal lining
– Grows and establishes temporary residence in the intestines
– Imparts health benefits

R Fuller. Probiotics: The Scientific Basis. London: Chapman and Halls. 1992
• Probiotics have the potential to reestablish the
natural balance and return the host to normal
health and nutrition

• Probiotic organisms are ‘host-specific’

• In 1989, Fuller defined probiotics as microbial
supplements that benefit the host animal by
improving its intestinal microbial balance
Probiotics
 Probiotics: proposed mechanisms

• Adherence and subsequent stimulation of gut immune system

– Up-regulation of mucin gene
– Enhance secretory IgA
– Maintain normal macrophage function
• Competition for essential nutrients
• Production of antimicrobial factors
• Provide favorable environment for growth of other beneficial
bacteria
• Production of short-chain fatty acids with anti-inflammatory
properties
Probiotics: Proposed uses
• Infectious diarrhea
• Antibiotic-associated diarrhea
• IBD, IBS, and pouchitis
• Necrotizing Enterocolitis
• Bacterial vaginosis
• Recurrent UTI’s
• Atopic diseases
• Immune system enhancement
• H pylori infections
• Dental caries & periodontal
infection
• Radiation induced diarrhea
• Cardiovascular risk reduction
• Constipation
• Rheumatoid arthritis
• As a culture concentrate added
to beverage or fruit juice
• Inoculated into prebiotic fibres
• Inoculated into dairy products
such as milk, yoghurt, cheese
• As concentrated and dried cell
packaged as dietary supplements
(non-dairy products such as
powder, capsules, gelatin tablets)
Prebiotics
The term prebiotics was coined by Gibson and Roberfroid in 1995:
‘A prebiotic is a nondigestible 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, and thus improves host health’
Gibson GR & Roberfroid MB (1995) Dietary modulation of the human colonic
microbiota: Introducing the concept of
prebiotics. J Nutr; 125:1401-1412
Since then, the concept has been further developed and in order to qualify for
prebiotic classification, a compound is required:
1. to resist gastric acidity, hydrolysis by mammalian enzymes and gastrointestinal
absorption,
2. to be fermented by the gastrointestinal microflora,
3. to stimulate selectively the growth and/or activity of intestinal
bacteria associated with health & wellbeing
Gibson GR et al (2004) Dietary modulation of the human colonic microbiotia:
Updating the concept of prebiotics
Synbiotics
Scientific Definition: Synbiotics may be defined as ’a mixture of probiotics
and
prebiotics that beneficially affects the host by improving the survival and
implantation of live microbial dietary supplements in the gastrointestinal
tract, by selectively stimulating the growth and/or by activating the
metabolism of one or a limited number of health-promoting bacteria, and
thus improving host welfare’.
Gibson GR & Roberfroid MB (1995) Dietary modulation of the human
colonic microbiota:
Introducing the concept of prebiotics. J Nutr; 125:1401-1412
”Working Definition” could be: A synbiotic is a combination of a prebiotic
and
a probiotic that interact to enhance the activity of the individual
compounds
and improve host health. The benefit of the synbiotic needs to be
demonstrated in human studies
 SYNBIOTICS
• Combination of prebiotics and probiotics

• Synbiotic combination results in an increase in the

levels of butyric and propionic acids & increase in
Bifidobacterium in the human intestine

• Enhanced impact over feeding solely prebiotics or

probiotics in rodent models investigating anti-
cancer effects
What Are Safety Concerns
for Probiotics?
􀁻 Potential for transmigration
􀁻 Impact on GI tract physiology and
function
(metabolic and enzymatic effects)
􀁻 Immunologic Effects (local or general)
􀁻 Transfer of antibiotic resistance