Prebiotics: What You Should Know

by Guest Author June 15, 2022

Prebiotics have a wide range of health-promoting properties. They are found in many common food items, making them an accessible and powerful tool in supporting health and wellbeing.

What are prebiotics?

Prebiotics are non-digestible fiber compounds that stimulate the growth and activity of beneficial gut microorganisms. [1] Simply put, they serve as food for good gut bacteria, thus promoting a healthy gut microbiome. There are many types of prebiotics, including inulin, fructo-oligosaccharides, resistant starches, and pectin. [2]

Prebiotics are distinct from probiotics and postbiotics, so understanding the differences between these is crucial.

While prebiotics feed the bacteria in our gut , they do not contain any live bacteria. Probiotics, on the other hand, are live microorganisms that inhabit the microbiome . [3] Like prebiotics, probiotics may confer health benefits when consumed in sufficient amounts. [3]

An example of a probiotic is Akkermansia muciniphila, which accounts for up to 5% of total intestinal bacteria. [4] A. muciniphila has gained considerable interest in recent years due to its health-promoting effects. For instance, A. muciniphila is inversely associated with conditions such as diabetes, obesity, and cardiometabolic disease. [4]

Finally, postbiotics are products of prebiotic and probiotic activity . [2] An example of a postbiotic is butyrate, a short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) produced through prebiotic fermentation. [2]

Prebiotics, probiotics, and postbiotics each play a unique and important role in supporting a healthy microbiome.

Where to find prebiotics

Prebiotics are present in a variety of fiber-containing foods, including fruits, vegetables, legumes, and whole grains.

Examples of prebiotic-rich foods include [2,5]:

Apples
Tomatoes
Bananas
Asparagus
Berries
Garlic
Beans
Wheat
Honey

Many of these foods also contain other healthful compounds, such as polyphenols. For example, apple peel powder not only serves as a prebiotic source, but also contains polyphenolic compounds that exhibit strong antioxidant activity. [6] Polyphenols from red whole fruits are a great food for the good bacteria in your gut.

In addition to foods, prebiotics may be obtained through supplements. For instance, LayerOrigon’s PureHMO® Prebiotic contains 2’-Fucosyllactose (2’-FL), a prebiotic human milk oligosaccharide significantly increases the abundance of the health promoting probiotic, Akkermansia muciniphila [23].

Layer Origin PureHMO® Prebiotic Capsules feed the growth of healthy gut bacteria like Bifidobacterium and Akkermansia which in turn create metabolites (postbiotics) like SCFAs which are anti-inflammatory and support the integrity of the gut lining (preventing leaky gut).

For a combination Pre and pro biotic (synbiotic) try PureHMO® Synbiotic .

Mechanisms of action

How exactly do prebiotics exert their benefits? Let’s take a look at their general mechanisms of action.

Prebiotics are non-digestible, meaning they pass through the small intestine and travel to the colon. Here, they are fermented and used to provide energy for beneficial intestinal bacteria . These bacteria are associated with many health-promoting effects, such as protection against disease-causing pathogens. [1]

A. muciniphila, for example, thickens the mucus layer lining the intestine and promotes the expression of antimicrobial peptides, thus preventing pathogens from entering and surviving in intestinal cells. [4]

By serving as an energy source, prebiotics support the beneficial effects of probiotics. For instance, apple peel powder (a prebiotic source) has been shown to enhance the survivability and activity of probiotic bacteria. [7, 8]

General events taken place in the large intestine. Prebiotics are the specific food for probiotics which ferment them to produce short chain fatty acids (SCFAs) to improve the host health.
Image source: ResearchGate / Huazano, Alicia & López, Mercedes G.

The benefits of prebiotics may also be explained by the postbiotics or metabolites (such as SCFAs) that are generated through their fermentation. For example, SCFAs can protect against inflammation, by downregulating pro-inflammatory cytokines and upregulating anti-inflammatory cytokines. [9] SCFAs also have antioxidant properties, thus protecting against oxidative stress. [10] Additionally, SCFAs can support the strength and integrity of the gut barrier. [9] This in turn further supports the growth of beneficial bacteria, by preventing harmful substances from entering the gut. SCFAs may also stimulate gut motility, thereby promoting normal bowel function. [9]

Interestingly, the health benefits of prebiotics may extend well beyond the gut. The gastrointestinal tract interacts with the brain through what is called the “gut-brain axis”. [11] Prebiotics may act on the gut-brain axis through various mechanisms, such as stimulating the growth of beneficial gut bacteria . [11] Prebiotics have even been shown to directly stimulate the expression of brain signaling molecules. [11]

Prebiotics are associated with benefits throughout the entire body, including in the brain, immune system, and cardiovascular system. [2] These benefits are described in further detail below.

Bulletproof InnerFuel Prebiotic is made with a plant-based prebiotic powder called Larch Arabinogalactan, which is also a is a natural immune booster.

The health benefits of prebiotics

There is substantial evidence supporting the health benefits of prebiotics. To start, prebiotics can favorably alter the composition of the gut microbiota. For instance, 2’-FL has been shown to support the growth of beneficial bacteria such as Bifidobacterium. [12, 13, 14] and Akkermansia [23].

Along similar lines, prebiotics may help prevent and treat intestinal disorders . For instance, in a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled study of 60 patients with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), 2-FL supplementation led to significant increases in the abundance of Bifidobacterium (which is often reduced in IBS). [15] Similarly, in a randomized, controlled trial of 44 IBS patients, prebiotic supplementation significantly increased Bifidobacterium abundance and improved symptoms such as stool consistency, flatulence, and bloating. [16]

Following a ketogenic diet? Primal Collective MCT Powder is enhanced with Acacia fibre - an excellent prebiotic that has been shown to increase the population of Bifidobacteria and Bacteroidetes.

Moreover, prebiotics have been found to be effective in reducing symptoms of Crohn’s disease . [17] Prebiotics have also been associated with a reduced risk of colorectal cancer, although this research is largely limited to animal studies. [18]

Prebiotics also have gut-healing properties. For instance, BiOptimizers Biome Breakthrough formula combines IgYmax® and synbiotics (probiotics and prebiotics), designed to weed out bad bacteria, reseed the good ones, and repair the gut lining.

Bifidobacterium utilises supplemented prebiotics, which stimulates their growth. Acetate produced by Bifidobacterium becomes a carbon source for butyrate-producing microbes, stimulating their growth and butyrate-producing activities and, in turn, modulating the microbiome function and improving gut health.
Image source: ResearchGate / Lee, Hui Ling & Shen, Haosheng & Hwang, In Young & Ling, Hua & Yew, Wen & Lee, Yung Seng & Chang, Matthew.

Through the gut-brain axis, prebiotics and other beneficial compounds in the digestive system may support nervous system function . [2] For instance, 2’-FL has been shown to improve learning and memory in rodents. [19] 2’-FL is also linked to improved cognitive development in infants. [20]

There is even some evidence, mainly from animal studies, that prebiotics may have anti-anxiety and antidepressant effects. For example, in a mouse study, prebiotic supplementation led to reduced markers of stress and reduced anxiety- and depression-related behaviors. [21]

Prebiotics may also support the function of the immune system . 2’-FL, for example, has been shown in animal and human cell studies to protect against Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli, and other infectious disease-causing agents. [22, 23] 2’-FL has also demonstrated immune benefits, such as reduced rates of respiratory infections and diarrhea, when added to infant formula. [24]

Moreover, prebiotics may support cardiovascular health . A meta-analysis of 15 studies found that prebiotics were associated with significant reductions in triacylglycerols (a marker of cardiovascular disease risk). [25] Similarly, in a randomized, double-blind study of 22 adults, consumption of prebiotic-enriched pasta led to significant improvements in blood lipid levels. [26] These changes in lipids, including an increase in high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (i.e., “good” cholesterol), reflect improvements in cardiovascular disease risk.

Prebiotics may also support healthy body weight . For example, in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, 48 participants were assigned to receive either a prebiotic or placebo supplement for 12 weeks. 27 Those in the prebiotic group experienced a significant drop in body weight, while those in the control group gained weight. Likewise, blood glucose decreased in the prebiotic group and increased in the control group.

Takeaways

In sum, there are many health benefits associated with prebiotics. Not only do prebiotics contribute to a healthy, functioning digestive tract, but they also support systems throughout the whole body.

Further research is needed to clarify these benefits, including their strength and underlying mechanisms. Nonetheless, there is evidence to support the potential benefits of prebiotics on cognition, immune function, and cardiovascular health.

Overall, prebiotics are an excellent tool to nourish the gut and promote good health across the entire body.

References

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