An Evidence-Based Review of Probiotics and Prebiotics

Probiotics and prebiotics have a variety of beneficial effects on the host’s health. Extensive studies have established probiotic strains such as Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium, and further the concept of next-generation probiotics has been advocated. Clinical trials and mechanism of action research have demonstrated that the gut microbiota and host health are inextricably linked, and that probiotics can benefit intestinal-related disorders such as inflammatory bowel disease by controlling the gut microbiota. Accordingly, the host’s gut microbiota has the greatest direct effect on the efficiency of probiotics and prebiotics. Due to the highly individualized gut microbiota, supplementation with probiotics and prebiotics must take the host’s gut microbiota into account. Personalized and specific interventions, as well as the development of next-generation probiotics, will be the new focus of research