Kolida S, Tuohy K, Gibson G R
Food Microbial Sciences Unit, School of Food Biosciences, The University of Reading, Whiteknights, UK.
Br J Nutr. 2002 May;87 Suppl 2:S193-7. doi: 10.1079/BJNBJN/2002537.
Prebiotics are non-digestible food ingredients that target certain components within the microbiota of the human large intestine. Efficient prebiotics need to have a specific fermentation therein and thereby have the ability to alter the faecal microflora composition towards a more 'beneficial' community structure. This should occur by the stimulation of benign or potentially health promoting genera but not the harmful groups. Because of their positive attributes bifidobacteria and lactobacilli are the most frequent target organisms. Both inulin and oligofructose have been demonstrated to be effective prebiotics. This has been shown through both in vitro and in vivo assessments in different laboratories. Because of their recognised prebiotic properties, principally the selective stimulation of colonic bifidobacteria, both inulin and oligofructose are increasingly used in new food product developments. Examples include drinks, yoghurts, biscuits and table spreads. Because of the recognised inhibitory effects that bifidobacteria can exert against gut pathogens, one of the most important aspects of prebiotic ingestion is fortification of the gut flora to resist acute infections.
益生元是不可消化的食物成分，作用于人类大肠微生物群中的特定成分。高效的益生元需要在其中进行特定的发酵，从而有能力将粪便微生物群组成改变为更“有益”的群落结构。这应该通过刺激良性或潜在促进健康的菌属而非有害菌群来实现。由于双歧杆菌和乳酸菌具有积极特性，它们是最常见的目标生物体。菊粉和低聚果糖已被证明是有效的益生元。这已在不同实验室的体外和体内评估中得到证实。由于菊粉和低聚果糖具有公认的益生元特性，主要是对结肠双歧杆菌的选择性刺激，它们越来越多地用于新食品的开发。例子包括饮料、酸奶、饼干和涂抹食品。由于双歧杆菌对肠道病原体具有公认的抑制作用，摄入益生元最重要的一个方面是强化肠道菌群以抵抗急性感染。
