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ARS Home Northeast Area Wyndmoor, Pennsylvania Eastern Regional Research Center Dairy and Functional Foods Research Research Publications at this Location





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Title:   Author  item
                                            BLATCHFORD, P - New Zealand Institute Of Plant & Food Researchitem
                                            ANSELL, J - New Zealand Institute Of Plant & Food Researchitem
                                            DE GODY, M.R.C. - University Of Illinoisitem
                                            FAHEY, G. - University Of Illinoisitem
                                            GARCIA-MAZCORRO, J. - Autonomous University Of Nuevo Leónitem
                                            GIBSON, G. - University Of Readingitem
                                            GOH, Y. - North Carolina State Universityitem
                                            Hotchkiss, Arlanditem
                                            HUTKINS, R. - University Of Nebraskaitem
                                            LACROIX, C. - Eth Zurichitem
                                            RASTALL, R. - University Of Readingitem
                                            REIMER, R. - University Of Calgaryitem
                                            SCHOTERMNA, M. - Royal Friesland Campina Domoitem
                                            VAN SINDEREN, D. - University College Corkitem
                                            VENEMA, K. - Tno Healthy Livingitem
                                            WHELAN, K - King'S College
  Submitted to: International Journal of Probiotics and Prebiotic
                                    Publication Type: Review Article
                                    Publication Acceptance Date: 8/27/2013
                                    Publication  Date: 11/1/2013
                                    Citation: Blatchford, P., Ansell, J., De Gody, M., Fahey, G., Garcia-Mazcorro, J.F., Gibson, G.R., Goh, Y.M., Hotchkiss, A.T., Hutkins, R., Lacroix, C., Rastall, R.A., Reimer, R., Schotermna, M., Van Sinderen, D., Venema, K., Whelan, K. 2013. Prebiotic mechanisms, functions and application - A Review. International Journal of Probiotics and Prebiotic. 8(4):109-132.Interpretive Summary:
                                Technical Abstract: In October 2012, a group of scientists met at the 10th Meeting of the International Scientific Association of Probiotics and Prebiotics (ISAPP) in Cork, Ireland to discuss issues surrounding prebiotics and their development.  This article summarises outputs from the meeting.

Various prebiotic definitions were discussed and how the concept has evolved from targeting the colonic microbiome, through to the entire gastrointestinal tract and finally the ISAPP definition, which specifies fermentation as a key criterion. Structure and function relationships are becoming clearer with effects upon microbial diversity, determinations of selectivity and enhanced biological activity being major outcomes. Immune modulation and metal chelation were further facets. Biomass can be a useful, and economic, means of generating new prebiotics. Pectic oligomers from citrus are model examples. Testing aspects range from in vitro batch culture fermenters to multiple stage models, immobilized systems, animal, cellular studies and human trials. Analytical processes around microbiota characterization and functionality were compared. Human studies were seen as the definitive outcome, including 13C labeling of key interventions. For extra intestinal effects, atopic disease, respiratory infections, vaginal issues, oral disease, adiposity, liver damage and skin infections are all feasible. The general outcome was that microbiota modulation was the key mechanism that linked these interactions. 

In pet food applications, the market potential for prebiotics is huge. Health targets are similar to those of humans. Issues include monomeric composition, chain length, linkages, branching, microbiota beyond bifidobacteria, metabolic function, mechanisms of health effects. Molecular biology has unraveled some of the explanations for prebiotic influences e.g. gene clusters to show transporters, regulators, permeases, hydrolases, lacS. In Lactobacillus ruminis, fermentation studies have been aligned to genome annotations, showing an energy efficient and rapid transport of GOS. In bifidobacteria, functional genome analyses have demonstrated uptake of trisaccharides. 

Questions relating to patients were then raised. For example, are prebiotics related to disease treatment or health maintenance? If a prebiotic does not change the microbiota, then how does it operate? Case study trials in Inflammatory Bowel Disease were presented on patient access to prebiotics and information. These showed that their knowledge of prebiotics was poor, compared to probiotics.

The group then discussed the next generation of prebiotics (e.g. anti-adhesive activities). The comparator was Human Milk Oligosaccharides, which both reduce adherence of pathogens and act as prebiotics. Studies with galactooligosacchardes (GOS) have used pyrosequencing to demonstrate varying species level effects. This has relevance for infant formulae. Prebiotic aspects of whole foods and their complexity was covered. Trials were described where cross feeding and co-metabolism had been investigated. Suggestions on other prebiotic influences, aside from bifidobacteria, were made and included metagenomics, metabonomics, gene expression, mRNA global sequencing, bile deconjugation, enzyme profiles, lipids, phenolics.

The discussion suggested how prebiotics could move forward with a wider expansion of the concept, target populations, expanded microorganisms, health benefits, application of new technologies and improved consumer understanding being the main goals.


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