It is now well accepted that the microbiota of the human gut may influence health and well-being. In recent years several studies have consequently been performed with the purpose of modifying the intestinal microbial balance, promoting the growth of selected beneficial bacterial species and suppressing potentially harmful ones. One of the adopted strategies relies on the diet, which provides the fermentable carbohydrates that form the bulk of colonic foods. An appropriate selection of the various nutrients may offer a distinctive competitive advantage to helpful organisms (eg bifidobacteria and lactobacilli) over harmful ones. Dietary carbohydrates that escape digestion in the upper portion of the gut are optimal substrates for the growth of colonic bacteria and can be classified as prebiotics, a relatively new concept in human nutrition. Many health claims have already been attributed to prebiotics. Among the gastrointestinal effects, those relative to the composition of the gut microflora remain central to all claims and represent the most relevant topic discussed in the present paper.
PREBIOTICS IN INFANT NUTRITION:CLINICAL RESULTS
FANARO, Silvia;VIGI, Vittorio
2002
Abstract
It is now well accepted that the microbiota of the human gut may influence health and well-being. In recent years several studies have consequently been performed with the purpose of modifying the intestinal microbial balance, promoting the growth of selected beneficial bacterial species and suppressing potentially harmful ones. One of the adopted strategies relies on the diet, which provides the fermentable carbohydrates that form the bulk of colonic foods. An appropriate selection of the various nutrients may offer a distinctive competitive advantage to helpful organisms (eg bifidobacteria and lactobacilli) over harmful ones. Dietary carbohydrates that escape digestion in the upper portion of the gut are optimal substrates for the growth of colonic bacteria and can be classified as prebiotics, a relatively new concept in human nutrition. Many health claims have already been attributed to prebiotics. Among the gastrointestinal effects, those relative to the composition of the gut microflora remain central to all claims and represent the most relevant topic discussed in the present paper.I documenti in SFERA sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
