Prebiotics

Since the publication of the first edition in 1999, the science of probiotics and prebiotics has matured greatly and garnered more interest. The first handbook on the market, Handbook of Probiotics and Prebiotics: Second Edition updates the data in its predecessor, and it also includes material topics not previously discussed in the first edition, including methods protocols, cell line and animal models, and coverage of prebiotics. The editors supplement their expertise by bringing in international experts to contribute chapters. This second edition brings together the information needed for the successful development of a pro- or prebiotic product from laboratory to market.

A comprehensive overview on the advances in the field, this volume presents the science underpinning the probiotic and prebiotic effects, the latest in vivo studies, the technological issues in the development and manufacture of these types of products, and the regulatory issues involved. It will be a useful reference for both scientists and technologists working in academic and governmental institutes, and the industry.

In order to achieve optimal digestion, absorption, and nutritional health, we must have appropriate populations of positive microflora. Prebiotics are functional foods that improve health by fortifying indigenous probiotics within the gut. This fast-growing area of nutrition and microbiology is rapidly amassing data and answering many questions about the necessity and benefit of such functional foods. Gathering contributions from leading experts in a range of disciplines, Handbook of Prebiotics presents a balanced view of the current knowledge in many different areas of the field. It discusses concept, definition and criteria for classification of a food component as prebiotics It then describes interactions with gut microbiota. Highlighting varying levels of evidence and agreement, the book presents current arguments for and against prebiotic intake. Contributions discuss the biomechanics of prebiotics and their effects on immune status, serum lipid concentrations, mineral bioavailability, and satiety modulation. They consider the health implications of prebiotic intake such as reduced incidence of gastroenteritis and chronic pathogenic gut disorders, including intestinal cancers and inflammatory bowel diseases. Providing well-rounded coverage, the book explores the varying effects of prebiotics in different populations and age groups such as infants and the elderly, as well as livestock and pets. The final chapters describe food avenues and the safety implications for prebiotic use. Spanning several disciplines including food science, nutrition, microbiology, biotechnology, and the health sciences, this seminal work makes a point to include sound research science and well-balanced views on the potential of prebiotics for promoting good health.

The prebiotic concept works on the basis that many potentially health-promoting microorganisms are already present in humans. Prebiotics are non-digestible food ingredients that stimulate activity in targeted microorganisms, to improve the health of the individual. Prebiotics can be incorporated into many foodstuffs such as beverages, health and sports drinks, infant formulae, cereals, bread, savoury products and so forth, and are receiving much commercial interest. Prebiotics: Development and Application is the first book to consolidate research in this emerging area of ‘functional food’ study. The book takes a broad view approach to prebiotics, from the conceptual stage, definition, production, evaluation of individual food products and their effect on microbial flora, and their potential relation to diseases. The book starts with an introduction to the prebiotic concept and its development, proceeds to consider the synthesis and manufacture of prebiotics and testing for prebiotic effects, and will then consider different forms of prebiotics (e.g. fructans, galactans, lactulose etc). The book will then look at prebiotic intervention for improving human health (acute and chronic disorders) and animal health. The book closes by considering the sectors for prebiotic foods, development and commercialisation issues, and future developments.

While there is little dispute that probiotics and prebiotics, alone and together, have been proven to promote gastrointestinal health and proper immune function, the challenge faced by researchers is finding not only the right combinations, but also finding those that are fully compatible with the formulation, processing, packaging, and distributio

Lactose-Derived Prebiotics: A Process Perspective is the first scientific reference to provide a comprehensive technological overview of the processes to derive oligosaccharides from dairy for use in functional foods. With their combined 90+ years in industry and research, the authors present the functional properties of prebiotics derived from lactose and the production technology required to make them. The book focuses on process engineering and includes an overview of green chemistry processes involving enzyme biocatalysis, providing detailed coverage of the use of whey lactose as raw material for producing oligosaccharides. The book’s focus on processes and products allows the reader to understand the constraints and impacts of technology on lactose-derived prebiotics. Presents the challenges of and opportunities for deriving oligosaccharides from lactose Details the technologies and methods required to produce lactose-derived prebiotics, including a comparison between chemical and enzymatic synthesis Discusses the potential use of whey as a raw material for the synthesis of non-digestible lactose-derived oligosaccharides Provides a process engineer perspective and includes valuable information about kinetics and reactor design for the enzymatic synthesis of lactose-derived oligosaccharides

This book is a printed edition of the Special Issue "Prebiotics and Probiotics" that was published in Nutrients