Commercially Available Probiotics and Prebiotics Used in Human and Animal Nutrition

Abstract Probiotics and prebiotics share a unique role in human and animal nutrition, largely centering on the manipulation of populations or activities of the bacteria that colonize our bodies. Probiotics and prebiotics can be utilized either separately or jointly as synbiotics. Bacteria from the genera Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium, and yeasts such as Saccharomyces are commercially available probiotic microorganisms used in human nutrition. In the case of animal nutrition, bacteria from the genera Lactobacillus, Bacillus, Bifidobacterium, and Streptococcus are mostly used as probiotic microorganisms. Prebiotics used in human and/or animal nutrition include fructans, galactooligosaccharides, starch, glucose-derived oligosaccharides, and miscellaneous oligosaccharides. Benefits of regular consumption of probiotics or prebiotics include enhanced immune function, improved colonic integrity, decreased incidence and duration of intestinal infections, downregulated allergic response, and improved digestion and elimination. Research has shown that probiotics and prebiotics may be useful in achieving these and other positive effects, provided that proper strain, product selection, and dosing guidelines of commercial products are followed.