This article introduces you to probiotics, prebiotics, synbiotics, and postbiotics
[Probiotics]
According to the definitions of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, the World Health Organization (FAO/WHO), the International Scientific Association for Probiotics and Prebiotics (ISAPP), and the Expert Consensus on Probiotics and Health of the Chinese Nutrition Society, probiotics refer to living microorganisms that, when given in certain quantities, can bring health benefits to the host.
They mostly reside in the digestive and reproductive systems of the human body, and can enhance human health in various ways, producing clear health benefits such as improving the composition and structure of gut microbiota, regulating immune function, and preventing or reducing the occurrence of various diseases.
Probiotic products may contain one or more specific probiotic strains. They mostly belong to lactic acid bacteria, such as lactobacilli, bifidobacteria, lactobacilli, streptococci, and enterococci. It is reported that probiotics have the potential to reduce the risk factors of cardiovascular diseases, such as obesity, blood lipids, type 2 diabetes and hypertension. Lactobacillus and bifidobacteria are commonly used.
[Probiotics]
In the "Expert Consensus on Probiotics and Health (Summary)" released by the Chinese Nutrition Society in 2021, it is pointed out that prebiotics are a type of food ingredient that cannot be absorbed and utilized by the human body, but can be selectively utilized by specific microorganisms (such as beneficial bacteria in the intestine), thereby bringing health benefits to the host.
Although prebiotics cannot directly affect the body, they can promote the growth and reproduction of probiotics, inhibit the colonization and growth of pathogenic bacteria in the intestine, and improve the gut microbiota. Simply put, prebiotics are the "nutrients" or "food" of probiotics.
[Synbiotics]
Synbiotics refers to a mixed preparation containing both probiotics and prebiotics. Of course, it is not simply mixed together, but rather the prebiotics added by synbiotics must be able to promote both the proliferation of probiotics in this preparation and the colonization and proliferation of probiotics in the intestine. Probiotics and prebiotics complement each other and work together to establish a favorable microecological environment for the gastrointestinal tract.
[Postbiotics]
Postbiotics include a mixture of any substance (such as metabolites, cellular components) released or produced by microbial metabolic activity, including microbial cellular components, phospholipids, active lipids, etc. These substances are directly or indirectly beneficial to the health of the host.
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