Feeding the Bacteria in Your Gut

• MARCH 31, 2009

By LAURA JOHANNES

We've all heard of healthy bacteria called probiotics, commonly found in yogurts and dietary supplements. A new wave of products now include prebiotics, dietary ingredients intended either to help increase levels of good bacteria naturally found in the body, or to be used in combination with probiotics to improve their efficacy. Scientists say prebiotics do increase levels of good bacteria in the gut, and some research has linked their consumption to health benefits.

Tim Foley

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Think of it as feeding the good bacteria in your body. Food companies are increasingly claiming health benefits for foods containing prebiotics. So far, all the well-established prebiotics are fibers, such as inulin, extracted from chicory roots. They work by providing a food source in the colon that is particularly attractive to healthy bacteria, causing them to grow and squeeze out unhealthy bacteria.

"A prebiotic is to your colon what grass food is to your lawn. It feeds the grass, but not the weeds," says University of Nebraska microbiologist Bob Hutkins.

Prebiotics are being added to beverages, cottage cheese, breakfast cereals, yogurts, kefirs, breads and even chocolate sauce. While more common in Europe, products making prebiotic health claims are beginning to take root in the U.S. General Mills Inc.'s Yoplait Yo-Plus yogurt, introduced in 2007, includes both a probiotic and a prebiotic fiber, which the company says together promote digestive health. Nestle SA last month launched Juicy Juice Immunity, a kid's fruit drink with prebiotic fiber that the company says helps promote good digestion and a healthy immune system. Other health claims being made in the U.S. for prebiotic-containing products include enhanced absorption of calcium and better bone health.

Many scientific studies have shown that prebiotics>>>