Professor Chair Holder of IPB: The Important Role of Bacteria in Prebiotic Preparation

While the general public has long understood probiotics, prebiotics are less known. But there are significant differences between the two, including health benefits. Probiotics are live bacteria in yogurt, other dairy products, and pills. Doctors often prescribe probiotics to patients on antibiotics in an attempt to combat gastrointestinal side effects of the medication. And while probiotics have been shown effective in managing certain gastrointestinal conditions, they do not have the same power that prebiotics do. The terms probiotics and prebiotics we often hear. Sometimes lay people confuse the two terms. Probiotics are microorganisms that are beneficial to the health of the human digestive system. The human body is full of good and bad bacteria, and probiotics always represent a good and beneficial group of bacteria. Meanwhile, prebiotics are foodstuffs that induce the growth and maintenance of beneficial bacterial intestines. In short, the prebiotic is a specialized plant fiber that beneficially nourishes the good bacteria already in the large bowel or colon. While probiotics introduce good bacteria into the gut, prebiotics act as a fertilizer for the good bacteria that’s already there.

Professor Chair Holder of the  Department of Biology of the Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences of Bogor Agricultural University (FMIPA IPB), Prof. Dr. Anja Meryandini, explained that if we want to maintain our intestinal healthy then the good bacteria that exist in the intestine should be fed. Prebiotics are non-digestible food ingredients believed to beneficially affect host health by selectively stimulating the growth of the beneficial bacteria residing in the gut. Such beneficial bacteria have been reported to protect against pathogenic infections. However, contradicting results on prevention of E. coli and Salmonella infections with prebiotics have been published. Prebiotics are non-digestible food ingredients which selectively stimulate the growth or activities, or both, of lactobacilli or bifidobacteria in the colon, thereby improving health.

Bowel health is in principle good bacteria win to compete against pathogenic bacteria, most microorganisms face a constant battle for resources. They also help the body fight infection and disease by combating the effects of the bad bacteria. We can maintain intestinal health if these good bacteria are fed. Vast numbers of microbes are present in all but the most rarified environments. Feeding beneficial gut bacteria with fibre appears to help a signalling mechanism which limits the growth of harmful pathogens. Foods for good bacteria that is prebiotics have been found in the market including Galakto Oligosakarida (GOS), Frukto-Oligosaccharide (FOS), Soyaoligosaccharides (SOS) in infant milk. Fruits and vegetables are also a source of prebiotics. Probiotics are found in the cultures of dairy products, including yogurts. Prebiotic preparation can use bacteria. " The best thing you can do for your bacterial health is treat your good bacteria to a prebiotic meal. The best vegetables to feed good bacteria are artichokes, garlic, leeks and onions. Prebiotics are fiber that the human body cannot really digest, but your gut flora can. There are many foods that have prebiotic fiber in them and supplements are widely available too, so it isn’t hard to make prebiotics a part of your regular routine, "said Prof. Dr. Anja.

Prof. Anja added, adults generally understand the importance of eating vegetables and fruits, but sometimes the condition does not allow them to consume their meals, due to their working schedule. Those who lack fiber in their diet may experience to constipation. “Our doctor recommended that we must consume appropriate amount of prebiotics. More and more  probiotic foods have come on the market, mostly dairy products. Non-dairy and unfermented probiotics have been produced, including breakfast cereals and snack bars, in addition to traditional fermented products such as kefir, yogurt, kombucha, kimchi, and  sauerkraut," Prof. Anja said. (Wied)