Health benefits of emerging and established pre- and probiotics

Probiotics and prebiotics are the prime examples of functional foods. Both target the composition and activity of the intestinal microbiota to provide a health benefit to the host. Prebiotics can be produced from natural sources synthesised from natural ingredients. Among the best established health benefits of prebiotics are their improvement of bowel function and improved mineral uptake. Specific probiotic strains have been shown shorten the duration of rotavirus diarrhoea and modulate the immune system. Although much knowledge has been obtained the past two decades, still much remains to be elucidated, especially concerning the mechanisms.