ABSTRACT
The study of the advantages of probiotics and prebiotics to human health has exploded over the past few decades. There are some new applications, diseases, and disorders for these healthy dietary components that were previously unthinkable. However, the 424scientific validity of these uses is not yet established, and probiotics and prebiotics should not be treated as a panacea. First, not all probiotic strains are helpful for all disorders because probiotic effects are strain dependent. Some strains may even be harmful and make matters worse for some patients if administered. Likewise, not all prebiotics are created equal; some may actually exacerbate a patient’s condition by encouraging the growth of harmful bacteria. In addition, the dose dependency of probiotics has been poorly investigated, and probiotic efficacy may be affected by culture conditions. Despite numerous positive results being obtained with several well-studied strains of probiotics, the mechanism of action is still completely unclear, let alone the molecule that is responsible for the beneficial potential. This means that there is still a lot to discover, even though scientists have been at it for decades.
