A comprehensive review of synbiotics: an emerging paradigm in health promotion and disease management

• Published in: World journal of microbiology & biotechnology 2024-09, Vol.40 (9), p.280, Article 280
• Main Authors: Lee, Sulhee, Choi, Sang-Pil, Choi, Hak-Jong, Jeong, Huijin, Park, Young-Seo
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Applied Microbiology; Bifidobacterium - metabolism; Biochemistry; Biomedical and Life Sciences; Biotechnology; Clinical trials; Digestive system; Disease Management; Environmental Engineering/Biotechnology; Fructooligosaccharides; Galactooligosaccharides; Gastrointestinal diseases; Gastrointestinal Diseases - microbiology; Gastrointestinal Diseases - therapy; Gastrointestinal Microbiome; Gastrointestinal tract; Health promotion; Health Promotion - methods; Humans; Lactobacillus - metabolism; Life Sciences; Metabolic disorders; Microbiology; Microorganisms; Obesity - therapy; Oligosaccharides - metabolism; Prebiotics; Probiotics; Review; Synbiotics
• ISSN: 0959-3993; 1573-0972; 1573-0972
• DOI: 10.1007/s11274-024-04085-w

Synbiotics are complex preparations of prebiotics that can be selectively utilized by live microorganisms to improve host health. Synbiotics are divided into complementary synbiotics, which consist of probiotics and prebiotics with independent functions, and synergistic synbiotics, which consist of prebiotics that are selectively used by gut microorganisms. Complementary synbiotics used in human clinical trials include Lactobacillus spp. and Bifidobacterium spp. as probiotics, and fructooligosaccharides, galactooligosaccharides, and inulin as prebiotics. Over the past five years, synbiotics have been most commonly used in patients with metabolic disorders, including obesity, and immune and gastrointestinal disorders. Several studies have observed alterations in the microbial community; however, these changes did not lead to significant improvements in disease outcomes or biochemical and hematological markers. The same synbiotics have been applied to individuals with different gut environments. As a result, even with the same synbiotics, there are non-responders who do not respond to the applied synbiotics due to the different intestinal environment for each individual. Therefore, to obtain meaningful results, applying different synbiotics depending on the individual is necessary. Synergistic synbiotics are one solution to circumvent this problem, as they combine elements that can effectively improve health, even in non-responders. This review aims to explain the concept of synbiotics, highlight recent human clinical trials, and explore the current state of research on synergistic synbiotics. Graphical abstract