Prebiotics by Ray Sahelian, M.D. Prebiotic supplement information

There is increasing awareness that the human gut microflora plays a critical role in maintaining host health, both within the gastrointestinal tract and, through the absorption of metabolites, systemically. The prebiotics concept, which was launched in 1995, concerns nondigested and selectively fermented carbohydrate food ingredients. It is thought that their effect in the colon could reduce risk for disease.
   One can increase the number of good bacteria in the body in two main ways: By taking probiotic supplements or eating yoghurt which directly supply good bacteria to the colon, or by ingesting prebiotics which help stimulate the growth of good bacteria.

What are prebiotics?
Prebiotics are food ingredients, mostly complex carbohydrates that are not digested, that stimulate the growth or activity of certain bacteria in the colon. The types of bacteria most often stimulated are bifidobacteria and lactic acid bacteria. These are considered good bacteria and can provide various health benefits.

Benefit of prebiotics
In addition to colon health, prebiotics can improve the immune system and reduce the incidence of allergies.

Types of Prebiotics

There are various types of prebiotics. Typical sources of prebiotics are unrefined wheat, oat, barley, soybeans, and Jerusalem artichokes (which contain inulin). Other prebiotics include fructo-oligosaccharides used as an artificial or alternative sweetener.

Fructo-oligosaccharide prebiotics
Fructo-oligosaccharides (FOS) are extracted from fruits, grains, vegetables, and herbs such as bananas, barley, wheat, asparagus, garlic, onions, tomatoes, burdock, and chicory root. Fructo-oligosaccharides can also be produced by degradation of inulin. The Jerusalem artichoke and its relative, yacón have very high concentrations of fructo-oligosaccharides. Fructo-oligosaccharides can also be produced by degradation of inulin.
   Fructo oligosaccharides (FOS) are dietary fibers that help keep the stomach and bowels healthy. They do this by nourishing and promoting the naturally present, "friendly" bacteria (Bifidobacteria and Lactobacilli in particular) capable of warding off infection in the digestive system. Because of these properties FOS is considered a "prebiotic."

Inulin prebiotic
Inulin fiber is a prebiotic. Inulin is available as a supplement for sale. You can find inulin prebiotic in a diet pill called Diet Rx.

Eczema and Prebiotics

Infant formulas containing a mixture of prebiotic oligosaccharides may protect against the development of eczema or dermatitis in babies at high risk for allergic skin conditions. The research was conducted by Dr. Guenther Boehm from Numico Research Germany, Friedrichsdorf. Human breast milk contains natural prebiotics that promote the development of a healthy immune system, which can help prevent allergies. Boehm's team developed an infant formula based on the prebiotic content of human breast milk and tested its ability to reduce the incidence of skin allergy in a group of newborns whose mothers were unable to start or continue breastfeeding. These infants were at high risk for skin allergy because they had a parent with the condition. A total of 102 infants were fed a prebiotic -enriched infant formula and 104 were fed a normal formula. The children were seen on a monthly basis until the age of 6 months. Only 10 infants fed the prebiotic formula had signs of atopic dermatitis after six months, compared with 24 infants fed the normal formula. Tests on stool samples from 98 infants showed that the prebiotic group had significantly higher levels of the beneficial gut microbes bifidobacteria compared to the other group. Prebiotics can favorably affect development of the immune system of infants by altering the bacteria in the bowel and in so doing reduce the chances of skin allergy developing in at-risk infants. Archives of Disease in Childhood July 2006.

Prebiotics and Probiotics in Disease
Probiotics (usually lactobacilli and bifidobacteria) and prebiotics (non-digestible oligosaccharides) have been shown to be useful in preventing certain disease conditions as well as possibly promoting specific aspects of health. Both probiotics and prebiotics may be helpful in malnutrition, particularly in lactose intolerance and calcium absorption, and in constipation.

An "optimal" gut microflora establishes an efficient barrier to the invasion and colonisation of the gut by pathogenic bacteria, produces a range of metabolic substrates which in turn are utilized by the host (e.g. vitamins and short chain fatty acids) and stimulates the immune system in a non-inflammatory manner. Although little is known about the individual species of bacteria responsible for these beneficial activities, it is generally accepted that the bifidobacteria and lactobacilli constitute important components of the beneficial gut microflora. A number of diet-based microflora management tools have been developed and refined over recent decades including probiotic, prebiotic and synbiotic approaches. Each aims to stimulate numbers and/or activities of the bifidobacteria and lactobacilli within the gut microflora.

The Science of Prebiotics

The application of probiotics and prebiotics to the manipulation of the microbial ecology of the human colon has recently seen many scientific advances. An alternative means to the use of probiotics of modulating the colonic microbial community is by the use of prebiotic oligosaccharides. Increasing knowledge of the metabolism of prebiotics by probiotics is allowing scientists to consider specifically targeting such dietary intervention tools at specific population groups and specific disease states.

Human Milk Oligosaccharides as Prebiotics
Human milk contains prebiotic oligosaccharides which stimulate the growth of intestinal bifidobacteria and lactobacilli. The development of intestinal microflora in newborns is strictly related to the kind of feeding. Breast-fed infants, unlike the bottle-fed ones, have an intestinal ecosystem characterized by a strong prevalence of bifidobacteria and lactobacilli. Data available so far in the literature show that, among the numerous substances present in human milk, oligosaccharides have a clear prebiotic effect. They are quantitatively one of the main components of human milk and are only partially digested in the small intestine, so they reach the colon, where they stimulate selectively the development of bifidogenic flora. Such results have been recently proved both by characterization of oligosaccharides in breast-fed infant feces and by the study of intestinal microflora using new techniques of molecular analysis, confirming that human milk oligosaccharides represent the first prebiotics in humans.

prebiotic fiber

prebiotics (galacto-oligosaccharides (GOS) and long-chain fructo-oligosaccharides (FOS))

Prebiotic supplement questions
Q. Are homeostatic soil organisms supplement preferable to prebiotics for gastrointestinal disorders?
   A. Since I have not seen any independent published studies with homeopathic soil organisms, and none comparing homeopathic soil organisms to a prebiotic supplement, it is impossible to say.

Q. I was reading through your website and I had a general question about your discussion about prebiotics. Does the body naturally extract FOS (the dietary fiber) found in bananas, oat, barley, wheat, soy beans etc., when I eat these types of foods? Does one have to eat them in a particular fashion or cook them in a certain way to avail benefits of the prebiotics? Also, are FOS supplements more effective than ingesting them naturally through foods?
   A. The body does make use of the prebiotics present in foods that are ingested. Each food or plant is different in terms of its ideal preparation for best prebiotic benefits, but the matter is too complicated and impractical to go out of one's way in terms of idea prebiotic ingestion and preparation. Rather, one should focus on consuming a number of healthy foods from a variety of sources. Little is known about the benefits of prebiotics in supplement form compared to the benefits obtained from eating foods that have prebiotics. Until more is known, it would seem reasonable to consume prebiotic supplements a few times a week or a few times a month.

Q. I'm currently on probiotics medication, I wanted to understand how I should take prebiotics along with probiotics to maximize their effect. I know that prebiotics help the friendly bacteria to flourish in the gut, but in what quantity (and when) should the prebiotics be taken to maximize benefit of the probiotic bacteria?
   A. There is no reason to be concerned about the timing of prebiotic and probiotic ingestion. Just take them when at any time of the day that you remember.