An Overview to Prebiotics, Probiotics and Synbiotics

Abstract

Probiotics, prebiotics or their combination (synbiotics) which are accepted as functional foods are attracting attention more and more as the have proved positive effects on human health. Probiotics are defined as live microorgansims which effects the host’s health beneficially by balancing the gut flora of the host. Prebiotics are non digestable natural carbonhydrates and stimulate the proliferation of spesific probiotic bacteria as Lactobacilli and Bifidobacteria. Synbiotics are the defined as the combination of probiotics and prebiotics. Probiotics are known as they are able to be used for prevention and/or therapeutical for viral, bacterial or antibiotic associated diarrhea, constipation, lactose intolerance, infectious intestinal diseases such as Irritable Bowel Syndrome, Enterocolitis, Crohn’s Disease, gastrointestinal tumors, food allergies, osteoporosis and as immune modulators, and prebiotics have additional proven effectst except promoting the proliferation of probiotics; like decreasing blood cholesterol levels, increasing mainly calcium and other mineral’s absorption, antimicrobic effect as a result of their fermentation which produces organic acids and decreases pH. Probiotics and prebiotics have a synergistic effect and provide an effective therapy for the diseases reasoned by the abnormal intestinal flora if they are used as a combination (synbiotics). This review refers basic information about probiotics, prebiotics and synbiotics and their functions.