The hectic pace of modern life often leads to quick solutions, both in lifestyle and the choice of food we consume. The importance of the gut microbiome and its balance is being increasingly researched, with the prebiotic concept itself becoming a topic of scientific investigation. The aim of this paper is to analyze scientific studies on the understanding of prebiotics conducted between 2019 and 2024 in order to see what new knowledge, new sources, new ways of use, and newly established effects on certain disease states have been discovered during this period. The question that the authors are trying to answer is how specific prebiotics affect the growth and activity of selected probiotic strains in the human gut (have impact on gut microbiome) and what the implications of these interactions are. Four databases were searched: Pubmed/MEDLINE, Springerlink, Google Scholar, and Scopus. The keywords used were prebiotics, functional food, probiotics, gut microbiome, and trends. A systematic review of 30 scientific studies on the topic of prebiotics revealed significant advances in understanding and application. Research particularly indicates how prebiotics stimulate the growth of beneficial probiotic strains, such as Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus, Lactiplantibacillus plantarum, and Bifidobacterium. In addition, innovative approaches in food production, including pasta rich in prebiotic fibers, chocolate with inulin and stevia, and the use of fruit by-products, show promising results in creating “healthier” food options. Although the papers had differing objectives and research methodologies, certain similarities were found. All papers emphasized the importance of using prebiotics, although it depended on the type they come from and their impact on the gut microbiome, i.e., the stimulation of probiotic action within the gut microbiome, which consequently has benefits on health. This review serves as a springboard for further research in this exciting field, with the ultimate goal of harnessing the power of prebiotics to improve health outcomes.

中文翻译：

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益生元利用的新见解：系统回顾

现代生活的忙碌节奏往往会带来快速的解决方案，无论是生活方式还是食物的选择。肠道微生物组及其平衡的重要性正在得到越来越多的研究，益生元概念本身也成为科学研究的主题。本文的目的是分析 2019 年至 2024 年期间进行的关于益生元认识的科学研究，以了解在此期间发现了哪些新知识、新来源、新使用方式以及对某些疾病状态的新作用。作者试图回答的问题是特定的益生元如何影响人类肠道中选定益生菌菌株的生长和活性（对肠道微生物组有影响）以及这些相互作用的影响是什么。检索了四个数据库：Pubmed/MEDLINE、Springerlink、Google Scholar 和 Scopus。使用的关键词是益生元、功能性食品、益生菌、肠道微生物组和趋势。对 30 项有关益生元主题的科学研究的系统回顾揭示了在理解和应用方面的重大进展。研究特别表明益生元如何刺激有益益生菌菌株的生长，例如鼠李糖乳杆菌、植物乳杆菌和双歧杆菌。此外，食品生产的创新方法，包括富含益生元纤维的面食、含有菊粉和甜叶菊的巧克力，以及水果副产品的使用，在创造“更健康”的食品选择方面显示出有希望的结果。尽管这些论文有不同的目标和研究方法，但发现了某些相似之处。所有论文都强调了使用益生元的重要性，尽管这取决于益生元的类型及其对肠道微生物组的影响，即刺激肠道微生物组内的益生菌作用，从而对健康有益。这篇综述为这一令人兴奋的领域的进一步研究奠定了基础，最终目标是利用益生元的力量来改善健康结果。