title: Understanding prebiotics in infant and childhood nutrition.
abstract: Prebiotics and probiotics are ingredients in the diet that strengthen beneficial microbes in the gut, especially bifidobacteria. This article discusses their effects on health and their use in infant formula and foods for children and adults. They may also have benefits for the elderly population, since bifidobacteria are known to decrease with old age.
authors.affiliation: Food Microbial Sciences Unit, School of Food Biosciences, The University of Reading.
authors.forename: Glenn R
authors.initials: GR
authors.lastname: Gibson
mesh_terms: D002664:Child Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D002675:Child, Preschool; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007225:Infant Food; D019936:Probiotics