Prebiotics, Probiotics or Symbiotics? Why hire them?

The term probiotic derives from the Greek pro-bios and means in favor of life. According to the definition of the Ministry of Health, foods / supplements with probiotics are those foods that contain, in a sufficiently high number, live and active probiotic microorganisms, capable of reaching the intestine, multiplying and exercising an equilibrium action on the intestinal microflora by direct colonization. These are foods that can promote and improve the body's physiological balance functions through a set of additional effects compared to normal nutritional activities. Always according to the definition of the Ministry of Health, the term prebiotic indicates non-digestible food-borne substances which, taken in adequate quantities, selectively favor the growth and activity of intestinal bacterial flora. Prebiotic foods contain a quantity of molecules that favor the growth of one or more bacterial strains (bifidobacteria and lactobacilli) that have beneficial effects for the organism. The most known and studied prebiotics are oligosaccharides and especially inulin and the fruit-oligo-saccharides (FOS). They are all non-digestible carbohydrates that act with two mechanisms, on the one hand they recall the water in the colon and hydrate the intestinal material, improving the functions of the intestine, on the other they regulate the digestion of sugars and lipids introduced with the diet. From the association of probiotics and prebiotics, symbiotic foods are obtained that play a beneficial synergic action on the intestinal environment. Symbiotic foods are fully included in the category of functional products as they are able to perform one or more beneficial actions for the 'body. However, these characteristics must be supported by scientific studies that show that food can actually improve health. The list of potential beneficial effects of symbiotics on human health is very long. They range from improving lactose intolerance, to increased absorption of some minerals: calcium, iron and magnesium, to improving the selectivity of the intestinal mucosa from which the cholesterol-lowering and immunostimulatory effect. Normalizing on intestinal function with therapeutic effect against antibiotic diarrhea. To be effective and to give benefits these foods must however overcome the gastric barrier to reach alive and active in the intestine where the beneficial action must be carried out.