title: [Prebiotics: concept, properties and beneficial effects].
abstract: Prebiotics are non-digestible food ingredients (oligosaccharides) that reach the colon and are used as substrate by microorganisms producing energy, metabolites and micronutrients used for the host; in addition they also stimulate the selective growth of certain beneficial species (mainly bifidobacteria and lactobacilli) in the intestinal microbiota. In this article, a multidisciplinary approach to understand the concept of prebiotic carbohydrates, their properties and beneficial effects in humans has been carried out. Definitions of prebiotics, reported by relevant international organizations and researchers, are described. A comprehensive description of accepted prebiotics having strong scientific evidence of their beneficial properties in humans (inulin-type fructans, FOS, GOS, lactulose and human milk oligosaccharides) is reported. Emerging prebiotics and those which are in the early stages of study have also included in this study. Taken into account that the chemical structure greatly influences carbohydrates prebiotic properties, the analytical techniques used for their analysis and characterization are discussed. In vitro and in vivo models used to evaluate the gastrointestinal digestion, absorption resistance and fermentability in the colon of prebiotics as well as major criteria to design robust intervention trials in humans are described. Finally, a comprehensive summary of the beneficial effects of prebiotics for health at systemic and intestinal levels is reported. The research effort on prebiotics has been intensive in last decades and has demonstrated that a multidisciplinary approach is necessary in order to claim their health benefits.
authors: Departamento de Bioactividad y Análisis de Alimentos, Instituto de Investigación en Ciencias de la Alimentación, CIAL (CSIC-UAM) Madrid.. nieves.corzo@csic.es.
authors: N
authors: N
authors: Corzo
authors: Departamento de Ingeniería Química, Universidad de Vigo. Facultad de Ciencias, Campus de Ourense, Ourense..
authors: J L
authors: JL
authors: Alonso
authors: Servicio de Aparato Digestivo, Hospital Vall d'Hebron, Universidad Autónoma de Barcelona, Barcelona..
authors: F
authors: F
authors: Azpiroz
authors: Grupo de investigación en Microbiología aplicada y medio-ambiental, Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad Autónoma de Barcelona, Campus de Bellaterra, Barcelona..
authors: M A
authors: MA
authors: Calvo
authors: BENEO. Connecting nutrition and health, BENEO-Ibérica Barcelona..
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Cirici
authors: Unidad de Gastroenterología, Hepatología y Nutrición Pediátrica, Dpto. Pediatría, Hospital Clínico Universitario de Santiago, Área de Gestión Integrada de Santiago, Universidad de Santiago de Compostela..
authors: R
authors: R
authors: Leis
authors: Grupo de Investigación de Biotecnología y Terapia Experimental basada en Nutraceúticos (BITTEN), Instituto Universitario de Oncología del Principado de Asturias (IUOPA), Universidad de Oviedo, Facultad de Medicina, Oviedo..
authors: F
authors: F
authors: Lombó
authors: Departamento de Nutrición y Bromatología II, Facultad de Farmacia, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Madrid..
authors: I
authors: I
authors: Mateos-Aparicio
authors: Grupo de Biocatálisis Aplicada, Instituto de Catálisis y Petroleoquímica, CSIC, Madrid..
authors: F J
authors: FJ
authors: Plou
authors: Departamento de Microbiología y Bioquímica de Productos Lácteos, Instituto de Productos Lácteos de Asturias - (IPLA-CSIC) Asturias..
authors: P
authors: P
authors: Ruas-Madiedo
authors: Departamento de Metabolismo y Nutrición, Instituto de Ciencia y Tecnología de Alimentos y Nutrición (ICTAN-CSIC) Madrid..
authors: P
authors: P
authors: Rúperez
authors: Departamento de Nutrición y Bromatología II, Bromatología, Facultad de Farmacia, Universidad Complutense de Madrid..
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Redondo-Cuenca
authors: Departamento de Análisis Instrumental y Química Ambiental, Instituto de Química Orgánica General (CSIC), Madrid..
authors: M L
authors: ML
authors: Sanz
authors: Departamento de Fisiología y Bioquímica de la Nutrición Animal, Estación Experimental del Zaidin (CSIC), Granada. España..
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Clemente
mesh_terms: D002241:Carbohydrates; D004043:Dietary Fiber; D000069196:Gastrointestinal Microbiome; D041981:Gastrointestinal Tract / Q000382:microbiology; D006801:Humans; D064307:Microbiota; D056692:Prebiotics
chemical_list: D002241:Carbohydrates; D004043:Dietary Fiber; D056692:Prebiotics