ABSTRACT
Novel functional foods containing probiotics have beneficial properties to human health from the nutritional side. The term probiotics is mainly referred to live microorganisms (especially lactic acid bacteria) which upon consumption provide health benefits to the host. On the other hand prebiotics are short-chain carbohydrates, which are non-digestible by humans and selectively stimulate the growth and/or activity of one or a limited number of probiotic microorganisms. More specifically they pass by the small intestine to the lower gut where they utilized by probiotic bacteria but not by other intestinal bacteria. Probiotics and prebiotics are contained in several fermented foods which are part of the traditional diet of humans for thousands of years. The effect of probiotics in certain foods is discussed along with their effects on human health and more specifically in type 2 diabetes, obesity, cardiovascular disease, colon cancer, constipation, metabolic syndrome, gastrointestinal conditions. Moreover, the delivery systems for probiotics have been discussed. Finally, the effect of prebiotics in foods has been described. A descriptive case study: The effect of probiotic and prebiotic addition in carp aquaculture has been discussed at the end.
