Search for Articles:
Title / Keyword
Author / Affiliation / Email
Journal
Article Type
 
 
Advanced Search
 
Section
Special Issue
Volume
Issue
Number
Page
 
9.1
5.0
Journals
Nutrients
Special Issues
Probiotics and Prebiotics: Past, Present and Future
nutrients-logo
Submit to Special Issue Submit Abstract to Special Issue Review for Nutrients Propose a Special Issue

Journal Menu

► Journal Menu

Journal Browser

► Journal Browser
share announcement

Probiotics and Prebiotics: Past, Present and Future

A special issue of Nutrients (ISSN 2072-6643). This special issue belongs to the section "Prebiotics and Probiotics".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 20 December 2025 | Viewed by 3213

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Ramon da Silva Rocha

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Food Research Center, Department of Food and Experimental Nutrition (FBA), Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of São Paulo (USP), São Paulo 05508-000, Brazil
Interests: emerging technologies; probiotics; food microbiology; food safety; dairy science; functional foods; dairy technology
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The Special Issue "Probiotics and Prebiotics: Past, Present and Future" invites researchers to publish original papers and reviews that explore the evolving landscape of probiotics and prebiotics. It focuses on their traditional roles, emerging innovations, and future potential. Exploring the well-established benefits of traditional probiotics and prebiotics, such as promoting gut health, enhancing immune function, and supporting digestion, and all other well-established benefits.

Additionally, emerging probiotics and prebiotics are discussed, with a focus on novel strains, cell modifications, and bioactive compounds that may provide more targeted therapeutic effects. New technologies in combination with probiotics and prebiotics are also explored in this issue.

Looking to the future, the issue anticipates the next generation of probiotics and prebiotics, including their importance in producing functional foods and enhancing human health, as well as their regulatory aspects. The potential for more effective treatments for chronic diseases, metabolic disorders, and mental health conditions is emphasized. Overall, the special issue highlights the current applications and characteristics of probiotics and prebiotics, as well as their dynamic and promising future in improving human health through both traditional approaches and cutting-edge innovations.

Dr. Ramon da Silva Rocha
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Nutrients is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2900 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • human health
  • probiotic foods
  • prebiotic foods
  • symbiotic foods
  • emerging innovations
  • emerging technologies
  • health improvement
  • technological applications
  • food safety
  • new and non-conventional strains and fibers
  • bioactive compounds
  • postbiotics
  • functional foods

Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue

  • Ease of navigation: Grouping papers by topic helps scholars navigate broad scope journals more efficiently.
  • Greater discoverability: Special Issues support the reach and impact of scientific research. Articles in Special Issues are more discoverable and cited more frequently.
  • Expansion of research network: Special Issues facilitate connections among authors, fostering scientific collaborations.
  • External promotion: Articles in Special Issues are often promoted through the journal's social media, increasing their visibility.
  • Reprint: MDPI Books provides the opportunity to republish successful Special Issues in book format, both online and in print.

Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.

Published Papers (2 papers)

Download All Papers
Order results
Result details
Show export options expand_more Show export options expand_less
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:

Review

Jump to: Other

25 pages, 1446 KB  
Review
Lactiplantibacillus plantarum as a Psychobiotic Strategy Targeting Parkinson’s Disease: A Review and Mechanistic Insights
by Wu-Lin Chen, Fu-Sheng Deng and Ying-Chieh Tsai
Nutrients 2025, 17(19), 3047; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu17193047 - 24 Sep 2025
Viewed by 182
Abstract
Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder characterized by the pathological aggregation of α-synuclein (α-syn), the loss of dopaminergic neurons, and the appearance of both motor and non-motor symptoms. Emerging evidence suggests a bidirectional influence of the microbiota–gut–brain axis in PD pathogenesis, [...] Read more.
Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder characterized by the pathological aggregation of α-synuclein (α-syn), the loss of dopaminergic neurons, and the appearance of both motor and non-motor symptoms. Emerging evidence suggests a bidirectional influence of the microbiota–gut–brain axis in PD pathogenesis, where gut dysbiosis contributes to increased intestinal barrier permeability, immune activation, chronic inflammation, oxidative stress, α-syn misfolding, and neurotransmitter imbalance. These findings are increasing interest in probiotics as microbiota-targeted interventions that restore intestinal and systemic homeostasis. Lactiplantibacillus plantarum, a probiotic species with remarkable environmental adaptability and genomic plasticity, has emerged as a promising candidate for PD management. Preclinical studies demonstrate that specific Lpb. plantarum strains, such as PS128 or CCFM405, can beneficially modulate gut microbial communities, reinforce barrier integrity, regulate bile acid metabolism, attenuate neuroinflammatory responses, and improve motor deficits in PD-like mice. In addition, Lpb. plantarum DP189 or SG5 interventions can significantly reduce α-syn aggregation in the brain via suppression of oxidative stress, modulation of neuroinflammatory responses, and activation of neurotrophic factors. Recent evidence even suggests that Lpb. plantarum-derived extracellular vesicles may possess anti-PD activity by influencing host gene expression, neuronal function, and immune modulation. Although robust clinical data are still limited, preliminary clinical trials indicate that supplementation with PS128 or certain Lpb. plantarum-contained consortiums can alleviate constipation, improve gastrointestinal function, reduce systemic inflammation, and even ameliorate motor symptoms when used alongside standard dopaminergic therapies. In this review, we provide an integrated overview of preclinical, clinical, and mechanistic insights, and evaluate the translational potential of Lpb. plantarum as a safe and diet-based strategy to target the microbiota-gut–brain axis in PD. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Probiotics and Prebiotics: Past, Present and Future)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

Other

Jump to: Review

15 pages, 1360 KB  
Systematic Review
Prebiotics Improve Blood Pressure Control by Modulating Gut Microbiome Composition and Function: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
by Abdulwhab Shremo Msdi, Elisabeth M. Wang and Kevin W. Garey
Nutrients 2025, 17(15), 2502; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu17152502 - 30 Jul 2025
Viewed by 1569
Abstract
Background: Ingestion of dietary fibers (DFs) is a safe and accessible intervention associated with reductions in blood pressure (BP) and cardiovascular mortality. However, the mechanisms underlying the antihypertensive effects of DFs remain poorly defined. This systematic review and meta-analysis evaluates how DFs influence [...] Read more.
Background: Ingestion of dietary fibers (DFs) is a safe and accessible intervention associated with reductions in blood pressure (BP) and cardiovascular mortality. However, the mechanisms underlying the antihypertensive effects of DFs remain poorly defined. This systematic review and meta-analysis evaluates how DFs influence BP regulation by modulating gut microbial composition and enhancing short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) production. Methods: MEDLINE and EMBASE were systematically searched for interventional studies published between January 2014 and December 2024. Eligible studies assessed the effects of DFs or other prebiotics on systolic BP (SBP) and diastolic BP (DBP) in addition to changes in gut microbial or SCFA composition. Results: Of the 3010 records screened, nineteen studies met the inclusion criteria (seven human, twelve animal). A random-effects meta-analysis was conducted on six human trials reporting post-intervention BP values. Prebiotics were the primary intervention. In hypertensive cohorts, prebiotics significantly reduced SBP (−8.5 mmHg; 95% CI: −13.9, −3.1) and DBP (−5.2 mmHg; 95% CI: −8.5, −2.0). A pooled analysis of hypertensive and non-hypertensive patients showed non-significant reductions in SBP (−4.5 mmHg; 95% CI: −9.3, 0.3) and DBP (−2.5 mmHg; 95% CI: −5.4, 0.4). Animal studies consistently showed BP-lowering effects across diverse etiologies. Prebiotic interventions restored bacterial genera known to metabolize DFs to SCFAs (e.g., Bifidobacteria, Akkermansia, and Coprococcus) and increased SCFA levels. Mechanistically, SCFAs act along gut–organ axes to modulate immune, vascular, and neurohormonal pathways involved in BP regulation. Conclusions: Prebiotic supplementation is a promising strategy to reestablish BP homeostasis in hypertensive patients. Benefits are likely mediated through modulation of the gut microbiota and enhanced SCFA production. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Probiotics and Prebiotics: Past, Present and Future)
►▼ Show Figures

Graphical abstract

Show export options expand_more Show export options expand_less
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:
 
Displaying articles 1-2
Back to TopTop