a food specifically designed to benefit and encourage growth of the probiotic
an ideal food source for good bacteria that is not readily broken down by the stomach and that is carried into the intestines to allow good bacteria to multiply more quickly
a nondigestable food ingredient that beneficially affects the host by selectively stimulating growth and/or the activity of one or more numbers of bacteria in the colon
a nondigestible food ingredient that beneficially affects the host by selectively stimulating the growth and/or activity of one or a limited number of bacteria in the colon, and thus improves host health
a nondigestible food ingredient that selectively stimulates the growth and activity of friendly, beneficial bacteria (probiotics) within the intestines
a substance on which probiotics feed
a substance that promotes the growth of healthful bacteria that inhabit the colon
Good bacteria require nutrients to grow and colonise the intestine once they are inside the intestine. Many good bacteria use carbohydrate nutrients such as lactose and “oligosaccharides†as fuel for this purpose. Nutrients which help to support the growth and colonisation of probiotic bacteria are called “prebioticsâ€.
The key to how a dog gets the most out of his food is his ability to transform the food into energy and release the vitamins, minerals and nutrients it contains. In the large intestine 'friendly' bacteria help the body to break down food, aiding proper absorption of nutrients, generating vitamins and fighting off harmful bacteria. A prebiotic is the term used to describe a food component that nourishes these friendly bacteria in the digestive system, helping create a healthy balance of bacteria in the gut and promoting long-term health and well-being.
Prebiotics are a category of functional food, defined as: Non-digestible food ingredients that beneficially affect the host by selectively stimulating the growth and/or activity of one or a limited number of bacteria in the colon, and thus improve host health.Gibson GR, Roberfroid MB. Dietary modulation of the human colonic microbiota: introducing the concept of prebiotics. J Nutr. 1995 Jun;125(6):1401-12.