Prebiotics Task Force

Background

Over the past 15 years, the scientific evidence for the beneficial health effects of probiotics has attracted much attention. Only in the past 5-10 years have prebiotics been attracting similar levels of interest but a broadly credible, accepted definition or exact understanding of their mechanism are still lacking.

Recent research indicates that intervention with specific prebiotics may provide beneficial effects on mineral absorption, colon cancer, immune function, irritable bowel syndrome, inflammatory bowel disease, antibiotic associated diarrhoea, lipid metabolism, appetite regulation and atherosclerotic plaque formation. This suggests that there is potential to establish prebiotic intervention as an important tool to reduce the risk of some chronic diseases. In many cases, the underlying mechanism of effect remains to be determined.

Objectives

The objectives of the Prebiotics Task Force are to:

• Achieve a working definition of prebiotics
• Collate the evidence for the physiological effects of prebiotics that may have an impact on microflora and other health effects on the host:
  - Identify criteria for substantiation of prebiotic efficacy;
  - Identify emerging areas of health impacts of non-digestible food ingredients and feed on health benefits and / or physiological functions.

To achieve these objectives, the task force set up two expert groups.

Impact

The output from these expert groups will promote the understanding of prebiotics amongst scientists and regulators. The task force has the potential, through a consensus agreement of independent experts, to put in place sound foundations for prebiotic functional foods in Europe for the coming decade, securing consumer and medical support, and lead to a healthy sustainable expansion of the prebiotic concept into reducing the risk of some diseases.

Activities

Definition of Prebiotics

The task force commissioned an expert group to develop a robust working definition of prebiotics.

Are prebiotics an ingredient or a concept? This and other questions are being discussed aiming to timely define a definition of prebiotics with significant value for future consideration by the FAO and EFSA.

The TF plans to publish this definition together with the outcome of the expert group’s work on metabolic and health effects of prebiotics in a scientific journal.

Metabolic and Health Effects of Prebiotics

The task force commissioned a second expert group to compile and evaluate the existing evidence for the effect of prebiotics on metabolism and health in the following conditions:

• Gut microecology
• In vitro effects
• Immune System
• Weight Management
• Pediatrics
• IBD/IBS
• Mineral absorption/metabolism
• Cancer

To ensure a wide dissemination, the findings will be presented at next ISAPP conference and a workshop will be organized in 2010.

The output of the expert group will be published in a peer reviewed scientific journal.

Task Force Collaborators

Members 2009

Expert Group on Working Definition Prebiotics

Expert Group on Metabolic & Health Effects of Prebiotics

* Observer

For more information, please contact info@ilsieurope.be