Probiotics:
Probiotics are active, harmless bacterial cultures that reach the intestine alive when taken in sufficiently high doses. They settle in the intestine, integrate into the microbiome and can have positive effects on human health.
Prebiotics:
Prebiotics are indigestible fiber for humans. This means that humans cannot absorb them through the digestive system. Probiotic bacteria, on the other hand, use these prebiotics, such as inulin, as food and contribute significantly to their reproduction. After consumption, prebiotics migrate undigested from the stomach to the intestines, where they serve as a source of food for the beneficial intestinal flora.
Synbiotics:
If you combine probiotic bacteria with prebiotic fiber, which serves as a food source, you get an effective synbiotic. By using this principle, the chance of survival of the bacterial cultures can be drastically increased and the effect of the preparation can be improved.
Sources:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28213610 -
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28244671 -
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18461293
