PROBIóTICOS, PREBIóTICOS E SIMBIóTICOS - ARTIGO DE REVIS O

The present work, through a bibliographical revision, tells about probiotics, prebiotics and simbiotics, reporting new concepts, as the therapeutical dose, the benefits these food ingredients confer to the health human and the possible mechanisms involved, arguing the effect based attributed they in scientific evidences. The gut microbiota plays an important role in both human health and disease, and the supplementation of the diet with probiotics and prebiotics may ensure an appropriate equilibrium of this microbiota. Probiotics are live microorganisms that, when administered in adequate amounts, confer a health benefit on the host. Prebiotics are nondigestible carbohydrates that beneficially affect the host by selectively stimulating the growth and/or activity of a limited number of bacteria present in the colon. A product referred as symbiotic is one in which probiotics and prebiotics are combined.