School of Bioengineering and Food Technology, Shoolini University of Biotechnology and Management Sciences, Solan 173229, Himachal Pradesh, India.
School of Bioengineering and Biosciences, Lovely Professional University, Phagwara, Punjab 144411, India.
Biomolecules. 2021 Mar 16;11(3):440. doi: 10.3390/biom11030440.
Prebiotics are either natural or synthetic non-digestible (non-)carbohydrate substances that boost the proliferation of gut microbes. Undigested fructooligosaccharides in the large intestine are utilised by the beneficial microorganisms for the synthesis of short-chain fatty acids for their own growth. Although various food products are now recognized as having prebiotic properties, several others, such as almonds, artichoke, barley, chia seeds, chicory, dandelion greens, flaxseeds, garlic, and oats, are being explored and used as functional foods. Considering the benefits of these prebiotics in mineral absorption, metabolite production, gut microbiota modulation, and in various diseases such as diabetes, allergy, metabolic disorders, and necrotising enterocolitis, increasing attention has been focused on their applications in both food and pharmaceutical industries, although some of these food products are actually used as food supplements. This review aims to highlight the potential and need of these prebiotics in the diet and also discusses data related to the distinct types, sources, modes of action, and health benefits.
益生元是天然或合成的不可消化（非）碳水化合物物质，可促进肠道微生物的增殖。未消化的低聚果糖在大肠中被有益微生物利用，用于合成短链脂肪酸，以促进自身生长。虽然现在已经认识到许多食品具有益生元特性，但也有一些其他食品，如杏仁、朝鲜蓟、大麦、奇亚籽、菊苣、蒲公英叶、亚麻籽、大蒜和燕麦，正在被探索并用作功能性食品。考虑到这些益生元在矿物质吸收、代谢产物生成、肠道微生物群调节以及糖尿病、过敏、代谢紊乱和坏死性小肠结肠炎等各种疾病中的益处，人们越来越关注它们在食品和制药行业中的应用，尽管其中一些食品实际上被用作食品补充剂。本文旨在强调这些益生元在饮食中的潜在和必要性，并讨论与不同类型、来源、作用模式和健康益处相关的数据。
