Probiotics, prebiotics and sinbiotics

Abstract

There has been increasing interest in the preventive and therapeutic uses of prebiotics, probiotics and sinbiotics as their combinations. Their health-promoting and therapeutic properties have been shown in numerous clinical studies and investigations. For that reason and because of the long history of their use they are increasingly accepted by the consumers, especially in the form of food. This article reviews the most frequently used probiotics and prebiotics, the proposed mechanisms and beneficial effects and different criteria in the process of selection and use as simbiotics. Future research should be focused on clinical trials investigating all potential effects, definition of appropriate methods for their selection, investigation of potential micro organisms and agents with positive effects on gut health, issues regarding safety, dosing, mechanisms and appropriate application.

Interesovanje za probiotike, prebiotike i njihove kombinacije (sinbiotike) povećava se iz dana u dan. Brojni pozitivni efekti na ljudsko zdravlje potvrđeni su velikim brojem eksperimenata i kliničkih ispitivanja. Zahvaljujući tome, ali i činjenici da u osnovi imaju dugu istoriju primene, oni su sve više prihvaćeni od strane potrošača, i prevazilaze granice komplementarne medicine, zauzimajući značajno mesto kako u promociji zdravlja i prevenciji bolesti, tako i u terapiji simptoma pojedinih bolesti. U ovom radu predstavljeni su najčešće korišćeni probiotici i prebiotici, osnovni mehanizminjihovog delovanja, potvrđeni i predloženi efekti u preventivi i terapiji pojedinih bolesti, kao i kriterijumi u njihovoj selekciji. Buduća istraživanja u ovoj oblasti pre svega obuhvataju veći broj kliničkih studija i istraživanja, razvoj metoda za procenu efikasnosti i selekciju optimalnih kandidata, tehnološka usavršavanja proizvodnje kao i ispitivanja bezbednosti, optimalne doze i primerene upotrebe ovih agenasa.