25% OFF Select Products^
Ultimate Omega Best SellerOmega-3ProbioticsVitamins & MineralsGummiesBest SellersNew ProductsFeatured Promotions 25% OffShop All

Health Interests

Optimal HealthRest﹠RelaxBlood Sugar & Metabolic HealthHeart HealthBrain, Memory & Mood SupportEnergy & VitalityImmune HealthDigestive SupportEye HealthSkin, Hair & NailsBones, Muscles & JointsAthletic Performance

Product Family

Ultimate OmegaNordic ImmuneNordic BeautyNordic FloraNordic BerriesZero SugarVeganVegetarianNordic PetGummiesNSF Sport CertifiedNordic Packs

Ingredient

CollagenCoQ10CurcuminMelatoninMultisMushroomsOmega-3sProbioticsVitamin D

Lifestage

Mom & BabyBabyKidsTeenWomenMen
Ultimate Omega

#1 Fish Oil†

Shop Now
Our Story
Our Mission
Nordic Promise
Why Omega-3s
Why Probiotics
Why Vitamins & More
Nordic Advantage
Healthy Science Blog
Community Outreach
New Look

Account

Store Locator

Shop

Ultimate Omega Best SellerOmega-3ProbioticsVitamins & MineralsGummiesBest SellersNew ProductsFeatured Promotions 25% OffShop All

Health Interests

Optimal HealthRest﹠RelaxBlood Sugar & Metabolic HealthHeart HealthBrain, Memory & Mood SupportEnergy & VitalityImmune HealthDigestive SupportEye HealthSkin, Hair & NailsBones, Muscles & JointsAthletic Performance

Product Family

Ultimate OmegaNordic ImmuneNordic BeautyNordic FloraNordic BerriesZero SugarVeganVegetarianNordic PetGummiesNSF Sport CertifiedNordic Packs

Ingredient

CollagenCoQ10CurcuminMelatoninMultisMushroomsOmega-3sProbioticsVitamin D

Lifestage

Mom & BabyBabyKidsTeenWomenMen

Why Nordic

Our StoryOur MissionNordic Promise

Learn

Why Omega-3sWhy ProbioticsWhy Vitamins & MoreNordic AdvantageHealthy Science BlogCommunity OutreachNew Look
Logo
LocationAccount

Healthy Science/ Prebiotics and Probiotics: How Do They Work Together?

Prebiotics and Probiotics: How Do They Work Together?

Woman relaxing outside with her coffee
Author: Gina Jaeger, PhD
Last reviewed on November 30, 2021
Highlights
  • Diet is being recognized as a key environmental factor that influences the composition and health of our microbiome.
  • Prebiotics promote the growth of beneficial gut bacteria in a way that confers a health benefit to the host
  • Combining prebiotics and probiotics may provide synergistic health benefits known as ‘synbiotics’.

You’ve probably heard the saying, “you are what you eat.” This is true; however, a more accurate statement would be, “you are what you feed the trillions of microorganisms that make up your gut microbiome.” This is because, like every surface of your body, the lining of your gut is covered in microscopic organisms that play an important role in your health and well-being.1

The trillions of microorganisms that inhabit your gut are collectively known as the gut microbiota. These gut microbes (mainly bacteria) play important roles in strengthening gut integrity, harvesting energy, and regulating your immune system.2-5

The collection of genomes represented by these bacteria is known as the gut microbiome and contains all the genetic instructions for microbial functions. Although we may not notice it’s there, the gut microbiome plays a very important role in both our mental and physical health.6 

 

Maintaining a Healthy Microbiome Through Diet

Increasingly, the food we eat is being recognized as a key environmental factor that influences the composition and health of our microbiome.7 So, how can we help keep our microbiome healthy?

One way to help maintain a healthy gut microbiome is to support the beneficial bacteria already present in the gut with prebiotics.

Prebiotics

Put simply, prebiotics are compounds in food that provide a source of nutrition for gut bacteria. However, according to the good people at ISAAP (the International Scientific Association for Probiotics and Prebiotics), there is a little more to it than that.

ISAAP defines a prebiotic as a substrate that selectively promotes the growth, maintenance, and metabolism of beneficial bacteria in the gut.4 Importantly, this definition distinguishes prebiotics from other substances that have health benefits but are not utilized by only the host microbiota and excludes substances that can be used to support pathogenic bacteria.

A common misconception about prebiotics is that they are the same thing as dietary fiber. However, because dietary fiber does not have the prebiotic requirement of selective metabolism, it includes many substances that don’t fit the current definition of prebiotics or confer the same health benefits.8,9

Examples of well-researched prebiotics include inulin, fructo-oligosaccharides (FOS), and galacto-oligosaccharides (GOS). Although these prebiotics naturally exist in a variety of foods, it may be at concentrations too low to provide a prebiotic effect for individuals who do not consume a variety of plants. 10

  • Inulin: a starchy substance found in a wide variety of fruits, vegetables, and herbs, including wheat, onions, bananas, leeks, artichokes, and asparagus.11
  • Fructo-oligosaccharides (FOS): a type of carbohydrate composed of short fructose chains and naturally present in plant-based foods including garlic, onion, leeks, chicory root, Jerusalem artichokes, and bananas.11
  • Galacto-oligosaccharides (GOS): a group of carbohydrates consisting of short chains of galactose molecules (a type of sugar found in milk) that can be found naturally in dairy products, beans, and certain root vegetables. 11

Another distinguishing feature of prebiotics is that they are not digestible by the host. Instead, prebiotics pass through the digestive system where they become food for the bacteria and other microbes in the gut.4 

Microbes in the gut then use this nutrition to generate short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), which play integral roles in gut and immune health.12 What’s more, because SCFAs are small enough to enter the blood circulation, prebiotics can benefit other distant site organs and systems, such as the central nervous system, immune system, and cardiovascular system.13

Prebiotic Health Benefits

Research suggests that prebiotics may support overall health through their ability to:

  • Promote digestion and bowel regularity14, 15
  • Reduce the incidence of immune-related skin conditions16,17
  • Improve measures of skin health16-18
  • Promote a healthy antibody response to vaccines19-21
  • Help regulate neurological functions22,23
  • Improve cognitive performance24,25
  • Help decrease circulating levels of cholesterol26
  • Enhance calcium absorption27

Probiotics

Another way to support a healthy gut microbiome is by adding living microbes directly into your system through a probiotic supplement or foods containing beneficial bacteria.

Probiotics are live bacteria and yeasts that, when consumed in adequate amounts, provide benefits for immune and digestive health.28 They can be found in natural sources, such as fermented and cultured foods, or supplemental forms such as liquids, powders, and capsules.

Probiotic Health Benefits

Research suggests that probiotics may help support a healthy gut microbiome through their ability to:

  • increase the number of healthy microbes in the gut29
  • stimulate immune functions and responses29
  • compete with pathogenic bacteria for nutrients29
  • enhance the integrity of the mucosal barrier30 and
  • block adhesion sites for unhealthy bacteria31

For a deeper dive into what probiotics are, and how they can benefit health, check out one of our other articles:

Probiotics 101: Everything you need to know

Probiotics: How Many CFU do I Need?

Can Taking Probiotics Help Support a More Positive Mood?

Help Maintain A Healthy Body Composition with Probiotics

Is it Better to Eat Probiotic Foods or Take a Probiotic Supplement?

 

Synbiotics

A third (and arguably, the most effective) way to maintain a balanced and healthy microbiome is by consuming prebiotics and probiotics. A simple way to achieve this is by taking a probiotic supplement with added prebiotics.

When used with probiotics, prebiotics are termed “synbiotics” and can help improve the viability of probiotics. More specifically, it has been proposed that prebiotics aid probiotics improving their survival during passage through the upper gastrointestinal tract, facilitating more efficient implantation in the colon, and providing a stimulating effect on probiotic growth.32

Because the word synbiotics alludes to synergism (when the interaction of two or more substances produces a combined effect greater than the sum of their separate effects), this term should be reserved for instances where the prebiotic compounds selectively favor the probiotic organisms involved.33 Synbiotic formulations often include various species of Lactobacilli and Bifidobacteria along with FOS, GOS, inulin, or some other type of prebiotic fiber.32

Synbiotic Health Benefits

Research suggests that the combination of prebiotics and probiotic may support human health by:

  • supporting healthy liver function34
  • regulating the body’s immune response34
  • improving the viability and successful implantation of probiotic bacteria32
  • increasing levels of lactobacilli and bifidobacteria34
  • preventing the passage of bacteria from the gastrointestinal tract to other sites in the body34

In Closing

The foods we eat are continually being recognized as an important environmental factor that influences the state of the microbiome, and thus our health more generally. Talk to a nutritionist or healthcare professional about whether your diet is setting you up for success, or whether a probiotic supplement with added prebiotics would help steer you along the path to optimal health and wellness.

gina-jaeger
Gina Jaeger, PhD is a Developmental Specialist and Lead Research Writer for Nordic Naturals. She holds a doctorate in Human Development, and has published several research articles on children's cognitive development. Gina enjoys studying and educating others on strategies for optimizing health and wellness throughout the lifespan.

Gut Microbiome: The collection of genomes (genetic instructions for carrying out microbial functions) represented by the microorganisms that live in the gut.

Gut Microbiota: The collection of bacteria and certain other microorganisms that reside in the digestive tract.

Short-chain Fatty Acids: Fatty acids with fewer than 6 carbons that provide the main source of energy for cells lining the colon, and play an important role in gut and immune health.

Related Articles
PrebioticFoods
Nutrition
Prebiotics: What Are They and Why Do We Need Them?

Want to be a good host to the trillions of microbes in your gut that help keep things moving smoothly? Learn more about prebiotics.

fermented_food
Lifestyle
Is it Better to Eat Probiotic Foods or Take a Probiotic Supplement?

Looking to add probiotics to your daily routine, but not sure if it’s better to get them through food or supplements? We can help you decide.

happy-woman
Nutrition
Probiotics 101: Everything You Need to Know

You’ve heard probiotics are good for you, but don’t know exactly why, how to get them, and what to look for. Until now…

capsules_in_bowl
Nutrition
The Benefits of Probiotic Powerhouse Lactobacillus acidophilus DDS®-1

Ready to try a probiotic, but don’t know what strains to look for? Research suggests that you can’t go wrong with DDS®-1.

Quality Matters
We obsessively test every product lot to ensure that our products are free from environmental toxins and contaminants. See for yourself.
View a Certificate of Analysis
Get the latest from Nordic Naturals
instagramfacebooktwitterpinterest
  • Ultimate Omega
  • Nordic Immune
  • Nordic Beauty
  • Nordic Flora
  • Nordic Berries
  • Zero Sugar
  • Vegan
  • Vegetarian
  • Nordic Pet
  • Gummies
  • NSF Sport Certified
  • Nordic Packs
  • Featured Promotions
  • For Healthcare Professionals
  • For Veterinarians
  • Contact Us
  • Careers
  • FAQ
  • Returns
  • Worldwide Distributors
  • Product Family
    • Ultimate Omega
    • Nordic Immune
    • Nordic Beauty
    • Nordic Flora
    • Nordic Berries
    • Zero Sugar
    • Vegan
    • Vegetarian
    • Nordic Pet
    • Gummies
    • NSF Sport Certified
    • Nordic Packs
    • Featured Promotions
  • Partners
    • For Healthcare Professionals
    • For Veterinarians
  • Support
    • Contact Us
    • Careers
    • FAQ
    • Returns
    • Worldwide Distributors
Privacy PolicyTerms and ConditionsSatisfaction GuaranteeSB657Site Map
Copyright ©2023 Nordic Naturals.
All rights reserved.
* These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.
† Based on SPINS Scan Data
‡ Based on ClearCut, Nielsen, and SPINS annual sales data
^This offer does not apply to current or future subscriptions. To redeem, add featured promotion products to your cart and receive 25% off. Discount automatically applied at checkout. Please note that some exclusions apply. This offer cannot be retroactively applied to orders. All sales are final. Limited time offer. Offer cannot be combined with other offers or discounts. Not valid for cash or cash equivalent. Offer is subject to change. Offer valid only on Nordic.com. Please note: Some qualifying products may have a shelf life of 6 months or less.