Synbiotics Explained

Synbiotics refer to food ingredients or dietary supplements combining probiotics and prebiotics in a form of synergism, hence synbiotics.^[1] The synbiotic concept was first introduced as "mixtures of probiotics and prebiotics that beneficially affect the host by improving the survival and implantation of live microbial dietary supplements in the gastrointestinal tract, by selectively stimulating the growth and/or by activating the metabolism of one or a limited number of health-promoting bacteria, thus improving host welfare".^[2] As of 2018, the research on this concept is preliminary, with no high-quality evidence from clinical research that such benefits exist.

Synbiotics may be complementary synbiotics, where each component is independently chosen for its potential effect on host health, or synergistic synbiotics, where the prebiotic component is chosen to support the activity of the chosen probiotic.^[3] Research is evaluating if synbiotics can be optimized, (known as 'optibiotics') which are purported to enhance the growth and health benefits of existing probiotics.^[4]

Probiotics are live bacteria which are intended to colonize the large intestine, although as of 2018, there is no evidence that adding dietary bacteria to healthy people has any added effect.^[5] A prebiotic is a food or dietary supplement product that may induce the growth or activity of beneficial microorganisms. A prebiotic may be a fiber, but a fiber is not necessarily a prebiotic.^[6]

Using prebiotics and probiotics in combination may be described as synbiotic, but the United Nations Food & Agriculture Organization recommends that the term "synbiotic" be used only if the net health benefit is synergistic.^[7] Synbiotic formulations in combination with pasteurized breast milk are under preliminary clinical research for their potential to ameliorate necrotizing enterocolitis in infants, although there was insufficient evidence to warrant recommending synbiotics for this use as of 2016.^[8]

Examples

• Bifidobacteria and Fructooligosaccharides (FOS)
• Bifidobacteria or lactobacilli with FOS or inulins or galactooligosaccharides (GOS)
• Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG and inulins
• Polyphenol^[9]

References

• Björklund M, Ouwehand AC, etal . Gut microbiota of healthy elderly NSAID users is selectively modified with the administration of Lactobacillus acidophilus NCFM and lactitol. Age (Dordr). 2012. 34. 4. 987–99. 10.1007/s11357-011-9294-5. 21853265. 3682059.
• Book: de Vrese M, Schrezenmeir J . Food Biotechnology. Probiotics, prebiotics, and synbiotics. 2008. 111. 1–66. 18461293. 10.1007/10_2008_097. Advances in Biochemical Engineering/Biotechnology. 978-3-540-70535-2. 44926607.
• Kentaro Shimizu . Hiroshi Ogura . Takashi Asahara . Koji Nomoto . Masami Morotomi . Osamu Tasaki . Asako Matsushima . Yasuyuki Kuwagata . Takeshi Simazu . Hisashi Sugimoto . Probiotic/Synbiotic Therapy for Treating Critically Ill Patients from a Gut Microbiota Perspective. Digestive Diseases and Sciences. 2013. 58. 1 . 23–32. 10.1007/s10620-012-2334-x. 22903218 . 3557374 .
• Pineiro M, etal . FAO Technical Meeting on Prebiotics. Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations. 2007. J Clin Gastroenterol. 2008. 18685504. 10.1097/MCG.0b013e31817f184e. 42 Suppl 3 Pt 2. S156–9.
• Tolerance, safety, and effect on the faecal microbiota of an enteral formula supplemented with pre- and probiotics in critically ill children. Simakachorn N, Bibiloni R, Yimyaem P, Tongpenyai Y, Varavithaya W, Grathwohl D, Reuteler G, Maire JC, Blum S, Steenhout P, Benyacoub J, Schiffrin EJ . J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr. 2011 . 53. 2. 174–81. 10.1097/MPG.0b013e318216f1ec. 21788759. 43353398 . free.
• Randomised clinical trial: the synbiotic food supplement Probiotical vs. placebo for acute gastroenteritis in children. Vandenplas Y, De Hert SG, ((PROBIOTICAL-study group)) . Aliment Pharmacol Ther. 2011. 34. 8. 862–7. 10.1111/j.1365-2036.2011.04835.x. 21899583. 9437498 . free.

Notes and References

1. 26604335 . 10.1007/s13197-015-1921-1 . 52 . 12 . Probiotics, prebiotics and synbiotics – a review . 2015 . J Food Sci Technol . 7577–87 . Pandey KR, Naik SR, Vakil BV. 4648921.
2. Gibson GR, Roberfroid MB . 1995. Dietary modulation of the human colonic microbiota: introducing the concept of prebiotics. J. Nutr.. 125. 6. 1401–12. 7782892. 10.1093/jn/125.6.1401.
3. Web site: Targeted Synbiotics to Manipulate the Microbiome for Health. Rastall. RA. 10. 2 October 2017. 13 October 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20171013232709/http://www.global-engage.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/Microbiome-Probiotics-USA-Agenda-2017.pdf. dead.
4. Web site: Development of a Targeted Synergistic Synbiotic for Lactobacillus plantarum LPLDL. Kolida. S. Gibson. GR. 20 June 2017. 2 October 2017. Rastall. RA. 2 October 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20171002220016/http://www.ift.org/~/media/Food%20Technology/Weekly/Skolida_IPC2017poster.pdf. dead.
5. Rijkers GT, de Vos WM, Brummer RJ, Morelli L, Corthier G, Marteau P . Health benefits and health claims of probiotics: Bridging science and marketing . British Journal of Nutrition . 106 . 9 . 1291–96 . 2011 . 21861940 . 10.1017/S000711451100287X . free .
6. Web site: What is the Difference Between Prebiotics and Probiotics?. Ridgley. Mavis B.. 19 April 2016.
7. 18685504 . 10.1097/MCG.0b013e31817f184e . 42 Suppl 3 Pt 2 . FAO Technical meeting on prebiotics . J Clin Gastroenterol . S156–59 . Pineiro M, Asp NG, Reid G, Macfarlane S, Morelli L, Brunser O, Tuohy K. 2008 .
8. 5015037. 2016. Johnson-Henry. K. C. Probiotics, Prebiotics, and Synbiotics for the Prevention of Necrotizing Enterocolitis. Advances in Nutrition. 7. 5. 928–37. Abrahamsson. T. R. Wu. R. Y. Sherman. P. M. 10.3945/an.116.012237. 27633108.
9. Polyphenol-based prebiotics and synbiotics: potential for cancer chemoprevention. WPD Wass. Thilakarathna. Morgan GI. Langille. HP Vasantha. Rupasinghe. April 1, 2018. Current Opinion in Food Science. 20. 51–57. ScienceDirect. 10.1016/j.cofs.2018.02.011.