What is Prebiotics
Prebiotics are non-digestible meals that promote the formation of helpful bacteria in the human digestive system. These organisms, often known as microbes, are beneficial to human health and well-being.
It’s fermentation promotes the growth of naturally existing bacteria in the gastrointestinal tract, such as lactobacilli and ifidobecteria.
They are indigestible dietary components that fail to degrade. Within the upper gastrointestinal system, they are not hydrolyzed. They are rich in the large intestine whereas the colon ferments them. They change the colonic microbiota’s makeup in favor of a more beneficial colony.
Types of Prebiotics
There are several forms of prebiotics.
The majority of carbohydrates are oligosaccharide carbohydrates (OSCs).they are as fallows:
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Fructans
This category includes both inulin and fructo-oligosaccharide, often known as oligofructose. Recent research finds that the length of a fructans chain is a key factor in determining whether bacteria can ferment it. As a result, fructans may stimulate other kinds of bacteria both directly and indirectly.
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Galacto-Oligosaccharides
Galacto-oligosaccharides (GOS) are the result of lactose elongation.
This particular form of GOS is also known as trans-Galacto-oligosaccharides (TOS).GOSs can significantly boost Bifidobacteria and Lactobacilli. Bifidobacteria in babies are well integrated with GOS. GOS stimulates enterobacteria, Bacteroidetes, and Firmicutes, although not as much as Bifidobacteria.
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Starch and Glucose-Derived Oligosaccharides
Resistant starch (RS) is a kind of starch that doesn’t breakdown well in the upper stomach. RS may be considered a prebiotic due to its high butyrate production, which promotes health. Other oligosaccharides are derived from a polysaccharide called pectin. This form of oligosaccharide is known as pectic oligosaccharide (POS). They depends on expanding galacturonic acid or rhamnose.
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Non-Carbohydrate Oligosaccharides
While carbohydrates are more commonly associated with prebiotics, certain substances, such as cocoa-derived flavanols, are also suggested for this classification. Several studies show that flavanols can increase lactic acid bacteria.
Health benefits of Prebiotics
- Prebiotics may be useful in controlling gastrointestinal conditions, such as irritable bowel syndrome, as well as maintaining a healthy weight.
- Prebiotics are substances can help lowering cholesterol and triglyceride levels. Particularly, inulin can lessen artery hardening.
- They have a significant impact on the pathogens and harmful bacteria that could trigger disease because they function in your intestines. They might be utilized to the treatment of diabetes, osteoporosis, and cancer.
- Effective probiotics will lessen the quantity and activity of any potentially dangerous pathogens.
- Prebiotics can reduce the likelihood and severity of allergic skin conditions, including atopic dermatitis (AD).
- Prebiotics can increase the expression of immune molecules, specifically cytokines. Maternal prebiotic metabolites can pass the placenta and influence fetal immune system development.
- Prebiotics reduce inflammation and thereby minimize the incidence of CVD.
Food Source
They are naturally present in a few foods, such as bajra, wheat, ragi, flax, sorghum, and pros millets.
Green leafy vegetables such as spinach, kale, dili leaves, coriander, and onion greens are good source of it.
Research has shown that different types of fruits like watermelon, muskmelon, apples, kiwi, and bananas are good sources of it.
In addition to being a popular cuisine, legumes are a potent source of probiotics. Navy beans, Moth beans, Black beans and Chickpeas are a few varieties.
It can be artificially added to several types of food and drink.
Food manufacturing companies use fructans as food ingredients. It is useful for stabilizing protein and fat as well as for sweetening and bulking purpose.
Prebiotics’ way of action
The gut microbiota has significant genetic potential and has a role in several metabolic activities, which can improve overall health. Prebiotics, which are carbohydrates that have short chains with a degree of polymerization ranging from 2 to 60, can be used to modulate digestion. They are not digested by human or animal enzymes.
Prebiotics affect the gut environment and can distinguish them from other undigested food ingredients, such as antibiotics.
Prebiotics, which are commonly present in fruits and vegetables, can provide multiple benefits to health. Prebiotics have several benefits, including decreasing blood density lipoprotein levels, stimulating the immune system, boosting calcium absorption, maintaining proper gut pH, and limiting calorie intake.
Are prebiotics the same as probiotics?
Probiotics are not the same as prebiotics. Prebiotic food does not get digested by the human gut, which promotes the growth of good microbes. The bacteria that support the health of the gut flora are known as probiotics.
Synbiotic
Probiotics and prebiotics together make up a Synbiotic. It contains probiotics, which are good bacteria, and prebiotics, which are carbohydrates that promote the growth of good bacteria. It promotes the survival and multiplication of good bacteria in the stomach.