Handbook of Prebiotics »

In order to achieve optimal digestion, absorption, and nutritional health, we must have appropriate populations of positive microflora. Prebiotics are functional foods that improve health by fortifying indigenous probiotics within the gut. This fast-growing area of nutrition and microbiology is rapidly amassing data and answering many questions about the necessity and benefit of such functional foods.

Gathering contributions from leading experts in a range of disciplines, Handbook of Prebiotics presents a balanced view of the current knowledge in many different areas of the field. It discusses concept, definition and criteria for classification of a food component as prebiotics It then describes interactions with gut microbiota. Highlighting varying levels of evidence and agreement, the book presents current arguments for and against prebiotic intake. Contributions discuss the biomechanics of prebiotics and their effects on immune status, serum lipid concentrations, mineral bioavailability, and satiety modulation. They consider the health implications of prebiotic intake such as reduced incidence of gastroenteritis and chronic pathogenic gut disorders, including intestinal cancers and inflammatory bowel diseases.

Providing well-rounded coverage, the book explores the varying effects of prebiotics in different populations and age groups such as infants and the elderly, as well as livestock and pets. The final chapters describe food avenues and the safety implications for prebiotic use. Spanning several disciplines including food science, nutrition, microbiology, biotechnology, and the health sciences, this seminal work makes a point to include sound research science and well-balanced views on the potential of prebiotics for promoting good health.

Preface     ix
Acknowledgments     xi
Editors     xiii
Contributors     xv
General Introduction: Prebiotics in Nutrition   Marcel B. Roberfroid     1
Gastrointestinal Microflora and Interactions with Gut Mucosa   Andrew L. Wells   Delphine M. A. Saulnier   Glenn R. Gibson     13
Prebiotics: Concept, Definition, Criteria, Methodologies, and Products   Marcel B. Roberfroid     39
The Prebiotic Effect: Review of Experimental and Human Data   Sofia Kolida   Glenn R. Gibson     69
Effects of Prebiotics on Mineral Absorption: Mechanisms of Action   Ian J. Griffin   Steven A. Abrams     93
Prebiotics and the Absorption of Minerals: A Review of Experimental and Human Data   Keli M. Hawthorne   Steven A. Abrams     105
Immune Functions and Mechanisms in the Gastrointestinal Tract   Alix Dubert-Ferrandon   David S. Newburg   Allan W. Walker     115
Prebiotics and the Immune System: Review of Experimental and Human Data   Stephanie Seifert   Bernhard Watzl     143
Triacylglycerols and Cholesterol Metabolism   Michel Beylot   Fabien Forcheron   Dominique Letexier     163
Prebiotics and Lipid Metabolism: Review of Experimental and Human Data   Nathalie M. Delzenne   Audrey Martine Neyrinck     201
Endocrinology of the Gastrointestinal Tract and Modulation of Satiety: Specific Focus on Glucagon-Like Peptide-1   Remy Burcelin   Patrice D. Cani     219
Prebiotics and Modulation of Gastrointestinal Peptides   Patrice D. Cani   Remy Burcelin   Claude Knauf     247
Designing Studies and Rodent Models for Studying Prebiotics for Colorectal Cancer Prevention   Umar Asad   Nancy J. Emenaker   John A. Milner     263
Colorectal Cancer Prevention: The Role of Prebiotics   Umar Asad   Nancy J. Emenaker   John A. Milner     285
Prebiotics and Reduction of Risk of Carcinogenesis: Review of Experimental and Human Data   Annett Klinder   Michael Glei   Beatrice L. Pool-Zobel     295
Prebiotics and Cancer Therapy   Henryk S. Taper   Marcel B. Roberfroid     329
Pathophysiology of Inflammatory Bowel Diseases   Frank Hoentjen   Levinus A. Dieleman     341
Prebiotics in Inflammatory Bowel Diseases   Francisco Guarner     375
Prebiotics and Infant Nutrition   Yvan Vandenplas   Thierry Devreker   Silvia Salvatore   Bruno Hauser     393
Prebiotics and Nutrition in the Elderly: The Concept of Healthy Ageing   Ian Rowland   Chris Gill     405
Prebiotics and Animal Nutrition   Jan Van Loo   Dieter Vancraeynest     421
Food Applications of Prebiotics   Anne Franck     437
Prebiotics and Food Safety   Gerard Pascal     449
Concluding Remarks   Glenn R. Gibson   Marcel B. Roberfroid     471
Index     475