Prebiotics play a pivotal role in fostering probiotics, essential contributors to the creation and maintenance of a conducive environment for beneficial microbiota within the human gut. To qualify as a prebiotic, a substance must demonstrate resilience to stomach enzymes, acidic pH levels, and intestinal bacteria, remaining unabsorbed in the digestive system while remaining accessible to gut microflora. The integration of prebiotics and probiotics into our daily diet establishes a cornerstone for optimal health, a priority for health-conscious consumers emphasizing nutrition that supports a balanced gut flora. Prebiotics offer diverse biological functions in humans, exhibiting antiobesity, antimicrobial, anticancer, anti-inflammatory, antidiabetic, and cholesterol-lowering properties, along with preventing digestive disorders. Numerous dietary fibers possessing prebiotic attributes are inadvertently present in our diets, emphasizing the broader significance of prebiotics. It is crucial to recognize that, while all dietary fibers are prebiotics, not all prebiotics fall under the category of dietary fibers. The versatile applications of prebiotics extend across various industries, such as dairy, bakery, beverages, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, and other food products. This comprehensive review provides insights into different prebiotics, encompassing their sources, chemical compositions, and applications within the food industry.

益生元在培养益生菌方面发挥着关键作用，益生菌对于在人体肠道内创造和维持有益微生物群的有利环境至关重要。要成为益生元，物质必须表现出对胃酶、酸性 pH 值和肠道细菌的抵抗力，在消化系统中保持不被吸收，同时保持肠道微生物群的可接触性。将益生元和益生菌融入我们的日常饮食中，为最佳健康奠定了基石，这是注重健康的消费者的首要任务，强调营养支持平衡的肠道菌群。益生元为人类提供多种生物学功能，具有抗肥胖、抗菌、抗癌、抗炎、抗糖尿病和降低胆固醇的特性，以及预防消化系统疾病。许多具有益生元属性的膳食纤维无意中存在于我们的饮食中，强调了益生元的更广泛意义。重要的是要认识到，虽然所有膳食纤维都是益生元，但并非所有益生元都属于膳食纤维类别。益生元的多功能应用遍及各个行业，例如乳制品、烘焙、饮料、化妆品、药品和其他食品。这篇全面的综述提供了对不同益生元的见解，包括它们的来源、化学成分以及在食品行业中的应用。