Consumer spending on probiotic products almost tripled between 1994 and 2003. Supplement manufacturers are beginning to market certain products as prebiotics. Myriad scientific institutes are looking into the legitimate medical role probiotics could play in disease prevention and treatment. Very few laymen, however, understand the difference between probiotics and prebiotics and how they interact with each other.
Probiotics
Probiotics are live microorganisms, found in foods and dietary supplements, that are similar to those already found in the human body. Once ingested, probiotics reside in the intestines and may offer some health benefits. Although microorganisms are comprised of bacteria, viruses and yeasts, most of the microorganisms that naturally reside in the human body are bacteria. While specific foods--usually yogurt--and supplements are marketed as probiotics, many foods contain naturally-occurring probiotics; including aged cheeses, microbrew beers, cottage cheese, kimchi, miso, pickled ginger, pickles, sauerkraut, tempeh, tofu and wine--according to the University of Missouri.
Prebiotics
Prebiotics, also known as fermentable fiber, are nutrients that humans cannot digest, but which, once ingested, nourish and stimulate probiotics already living in the intestines. While supplement manufacturers are beginning to market prebiotics, and food manufacturers are even offering yogurts fortified with prebiotics, these nutrients occur naturally in many foods; including wheat, whole grain and dairy products, legumes, leafy greens, artichokes, bananas, berries, chicory, garlic, honey, leaks and onions--according to MayoClinic.com.
Potential Health Benefits
The National Center for Complimentary and Alternative Medicine, or NCCAM, warns that rigorous scientific research into the health benefits of probiotics is relatively young, but there are some promising results with regard to using them to treat diarrhea caused by the rotavirus. Other promising avenues for research involve using probiotics to prevent or treat urinary and genital tract infections in women, irritable bowel syndrome, bladder cancer, pouchitis and eczema. MayoClinic.com notes that other potential health benefits include boosting immune and bowel function, treating antibiotic-related and traveler's diarrhea, improving gastroenteritis and colitis and increasing calcium absorption.
Side Effects
Supplements or foods containing prebiotics and probiotics can cause flatulence, abdominal pain, bloating and diarrhea. While their use is generally considered to be safe, NCCAM warns that the safe use of probiotics in young children, the elderly and those with compromised immune systems or other underlying health conditions needs to be studied more thoroughly.
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