Role of Prebiotics and Probiotics in Heath: Bioactive Compounds and Their Contribution

Dear Colleagues,

The utilization of prebiotics and probiotics have attracted significant attention over the last decades due to the benefits they confer to human health. Indeed, prebiotic intake has been correlated with functions such as maintenance of body weight, improvement of gut health and immune function and reduction of the incidence of cardiovascular disease and type II diabetes. On the other hand, probiotic intake has been correlated with the prevention and in some cases treatment of dysfunctions of the digestive system and the gut-brain axis, as well as with immune-stimulatory, anti-inflammatory, anti-tumor and anti-depressant activities. These result from the metabolic activities of the microbial strains and the utilization of appropriate raw materials that may enable the production of bioactive compounds. 

The technological and conceptual advances of recent years have enabled a significant increase in data generation and bioinformatic analysis. Through the utilization of next generation sequencing, the metabolic capacity of the analyzed strains may be revealed, facilitating the utilization of the suitable raw materials towards the production of specific metabolic end products. Such an approach may lead to the development of customized products targeting specific needs. 

The aim of this special issue is to collect articles that update the current knowledge on the health benefits of prebiotics and probiotics, reveal research gaps and opportunities and point at directions for future studies.

Dr. Maria Aspri
Dr. Spiros Paramithiotis
Dr. Dimitrios Tsaltas
Guest Editors

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• prebiotics
• probiotics
• lactic acid bacteria
• yeasts
• health benefits
• mechanism of action
• customized product development
• fermented food