Probiotics are defined as viable microbial food supplements that have beneficial effects on host health. Prebiotics are food components that are largely undegraded in the small intestine and can have beneficial effects on the host by selectively stimulating the growth and/or activity of beneficial bacteria.
Probiotics VS Prebiotics
The difference between probiotics and prebiotics is mainly reflected in three aspects, including the ingredients, the way they work, and the activity. While probiotics and prebiotics are different, they complement each other and work together to maintain gut health.
Different ingredients
Probiotics are bacteria that are beneficial to the human body. Simply put, they are a type of beneficial bacteria.
Prebiotics are mainly some non-digestible oligosaccharides, which are a class of dietary components.
Works differently
Probiotics work directly in the gut.
Prebiotics cannot directly act on the human body, but indirectly exert physiological functions by acting on the beneficial flora already existing in the intestines, promoting their growth and activity.
Different activity
Probiotics are "live". Only probiotics that enter the gastrointestinal tract alive can play a role, so the activity of probiotics will be affected by factors such as storage conditions, gastric acid, co-administered drugs, co-administration water temperature and other factors.
Prebiotics are "dead". The essence of prebiotics is dietary fiber, so there is no problem of activity, and there are not as many requirements as probiotics when they are stored and taken.
Sources in food
Food rich in probiotics: yogurt containing probiotics, yogurt beans, probiotic supplements, etc.
Food rich in prebiotics: leeks, garlic, bananas, onions, burdock, yacon, inulin, fructooligosaccharide supplements, etc.
Nutritional Advantages
Potential "nutritional advantages" of probiotics and prebiotics include preventive efficacy against diseases such as intestinal dysfunction, gastrointestinal infections, inflammatory bowel disease and possibly colon cancer.
Prebiotics
Prebiotics have been shown to have significant effects in the areas of relieving constipation and treating hepatic encephalopathy. In addition, prebiotics have other potential applications (the current level of evidence is low). For example, preclinical studies suggest that prebiotics may play a role in inflammatory bowel disease, prevention of cholesterol gallstones, and prevention of gut-derived infections. A protective effect against colon cancer has also been proposed. [1]
Probiotics
Probiotics have a significant effect on improving lactose intolerance and other enzymatic effects, antibiotic-related diarrhea, gastroenteritis and other diseases. Other potential applications of probiotics include inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), Traveller's diarrhoea and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). [1]
Related Research Information
Improves digestive problems and quality of life in pregnant women
Pregnancy-related nausea, constipation, upset stomach, bloating, fatigue, etc., without obvious structural abnormalities, are therefore referred to as functional gastrointestinal (GI) disorders. Elevated estrogen and progesterone during pregnancy alter the composition and function of the gut microbiome, which can significantly affect gastrointestinal function. The results of a study showed that pregnant women who took two daily cycles of six probiotics, mostly containing strains of Lactobacillus, reported that they experienced less nausea, vomiting and constipation than a group of pregnant women who took a placebo. The overall quality of life is better. [2]
Lower human cholesterol
Probiotics and/or prebiotics can be used as alternative supplements for health benefits, including lowering the body's cholesterol. According to a review summary, probiotics and/or prebiotics have been extensively evaluated for their effects on lipid profiles, such as total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, and triglycerides. One of the mechanisms of probiotics' cholesterol-lowering action has been attributed to their ability to bind cholesterol in the small intestine. [3]
Scanning electron micrograph of Lactobacillus bulgaricus cultivated in (A) media without cholesterol and (B) broth supplemented with cholesterol (100 mM). [3]
References- P. Marteau. (2002). "Nutritional advantages of probiotics and prebiotics," British Journal of Nutrition 87(2), S153–S157.
- Albert T. Liu. (2021). "Probiotics Improve Gastrointestinal Function and Life Quality in Pregnancy," Nutrients 13(11), 3931.
- Lay-Gaik Ooi. (2010). "Cholesterol-Lowering Effects of Probiotics and Prebiotics: A Review of in Vivo and in Vitro Findings," International Journal of Molecular Sciences 2010, 11(6), 2499-2522.
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