Prebiotics, Probiotics, and Synbiotics

Probiotics:

Living microorganisms that provide health benefits. "Live bacteria." Difficult to add to foods but can be given as supplements.

Prebiotics:

Non-digestible food ingredients that stimulate beneficial bacteria. "Food for the bacteria." Easy to add to foods or give as supplements.

Synbiotics:

Combination of prebiotics and probiotics. Available as supplements; not added to foods.

Nutraceuticals:

Non-drug substances intended to improve health.

Review of Gut Microbiome

• The intestines are the largest component of the immune system

• Approximately 70% of the total immune system is located in the intestines

• Millions of bacteria naturally reside in healthy animals' intestines

These bacteria help with:

• Digestion

• Maintaining intestinal integrity

• Metabolism

• Stimulating immune function

 Intestinal Defense Systems

Intestines are the largest component of the immune system (approx 70% of total immune system)

Three coordinated defense systems:

• Resident intestinal microflora → Provide an environment that favours growth and function of good bacteria
  

• Intestinal mucosa → Provides a barrier against pathogenic bacteria
  

• Gut-associated lymphoid tissue (GALT)
  

• Primary goal: Block pathogenic bacteria
  

• Allow passage of essential nutrients

Efforts to maintain healthy gut flora or restore balance after a disruption:

• Dietary manipulation

• Helminth therapy (putting worms in to eat bad bacteria)

• Fecal microbiota transplantation

• Pre-, Pro-, and Synbiotic use → Probiotics help control diarrhea caused by bacterial overgrowth or parasites by competing with the pathogenic bacteria for nutrients and binding sites

Antibiotics → Very hard on the normal gut flora as they are not specific to the type of bacteria and will destroy/kill any bacteria that falls within their spectrum

Prebiotics — Bacterial Food Sources

Usually considered an oligosaccharide; however, the ones used most frequently are soluble fibers

Types of Fructooligosaccharides (FOS) Prebiotics:

• Oligofructose → Undergoes fermentation quickly in the colon

Inulin → Ferments more slowly, which benefits the bacteria further down the colon. Can also be broken down into FOS.

Sources for both prebiotics

• Soybeans

• Oats

• Beets

• Tomatoes

• Jerusalem artichokes

• Produce short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) once bacteria break them down, producing acetate, propionate, and butyrate

• These provide energy for the colonocytes, especially butyrate

• Overall, prebiotics can improve gut integrity and animal performance

Probiotics — Living Beneficial Bacteria

Useful for treating many conditions by introducing beneficial bacteria into the environment

For bacteria to qualify as a probiotic, it must:

• Survive acidic pH and bile acids in the GI tract

• Adhere to intestinal cells to colonize in the GI tract

• Reduce pathogenic bacteria adherence

• Produce beneficial acids like hydrogen peroxide and bacteriocins that antagonize growth of pathogens

• Aggregate to achieve a normal microflora population

• Be safe, noninvasive, noncarcinogenic, and nonpathogenic

GI after birth

• Newborns have a sterile GI tract which colonizes a few hours after birth. Once the neonatal period is over, it can be challenging to introduce new bacteria to the system because of the acidic nature.

• Supplementing the diet with yogurt or fermented foods like kimchi or sauerkraut may not provide much benefit to the health of the animal, as the bacteria provided may not be the type needed.

When used properly, probiotics can:

• Lower the pH of the GIT

• Inhibit the growth of pathogenic bacteria

• Increase the fecal count of good bacteria

• Minimize adherence of "bad" bacteria to the intestinal wall

• Assist with the immune response

• Greatly impact the small intestine, which typically has poor protection against pathogens

Synbiotics — Combined Approach

• Combination of Probiotics and Prebiotics

Potential Benefits of synbiotics

• Prebiotic portion enhances probiotic bacterial survival

• Improved GI tract conditions

• Increased beneficial bacterial proliferation

• Prebiotics may enhance the benefits of probiotics when used together in these products

• Can be used as separate or combined products

Challenges in Probiotic Use

• One of the major issues with probiotics is survivability of the bacteria

Survivability issues:

• Bacteria loss during storage → After 5–6 months, almost no bacteria remain

• Survival through gastric pH

• Colonization difficulties

Manufacturer strategies:

• Microencapsulation → To protect the bacteria

• Multiple bacterial species → To cover more bases

• Careful product selection

Best probiotic choices: Forti Flora and Proviable-DC