Pre-, Pro- And Synbiotics

The concept of probiotics is now well established in Europe, and many dairy products contain these microbial food supplements that can provide physiological benefits after consumption by contributing to the microbiological balance in the gastrointestinal tract. A newer concept gaining momentum is prebiotics, defined as "non-digestible food ingredients that beneficially affect the host by selectively stimulating the growth and/or activity of one of a limited number of bacteria in the colon, and thus improve the host's health."

When both pre- and probiotics are combined, they become synbiotics, which combine the effects of new bacteria and the stimulation of the body-own bacteria. "There is a high potential in the development of such mixtures, since some of these may well show powerful synergistic nutritional effects," Coussement said.

Symbalance, an enriched yogurt from the Swiss dairy company Tonilait, was one of the first synbiotics. It contains three probiotic strains and the branded prebiotic Raftiline from Orafti. More recent launches include Jour apres Jour, a UHT skimmed milk enriched with vitamins, trace elements of micronutrients and the branded soluble fiber Actilight from Beghin Meiji Industries. Actilight, made up of fructo-oligosaccharides obtained from beets, has just been approved by the European Commission's Scientific Committee on Food (SCF). It is said to have technical functions similar to sugar, such as water retention; high viscosity; stability at different temperatures; and a stable pH level.

German companies have also been active in developing these synbiotic products, reports John Young of Leatherhead Food RA. Bauer launched Probiotic Plus Oligofructose, which contains two probiotic strains and the prebiotic Raftilose. In addition, prebiotics are suitable for a wider application range than probiotics, such as the recently launched Ligne Bifide range from Vivis in France, which includes biscuits, soups and ready meals that contain Actilight.

Probiotics that also claim to bolster the body's immune system have also had success in Europe. The most significant product is LC1 enriched yogurt from Nestlé, first launched in the French market and now available throughout Europe. Central to the development of LC1 was the identification of a Lactobacillus strain with exceptional probiotic effects, which was named LA1. Nestlé has conducted extensive research into the product and recommends that it be eaten daily as part of a healthy balanced diet.

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