Probiotics and prebiotics, targeting obesity with functional foods

[摘要] OBJECTIVES: This review aimed to discuss mechanisms through which gut microbiota could act as a key modifier of obesity and related metabolic abnormalities. Obesity is a growing health epidemic with an increasing incidence in European countries. It results from a combination of genetic, psychological, physiological and environmental factors. Probiotic and prebiotic ingredients provide an optimal target for the development of novel functional foods used in the prevention of obesity development as one of risk factors of chronic diseases. Knowledge about prebiotic and probiotic mechanisms of action, and novel functional foods supplemented with probiotics and prebiotics will facilitate their clinical application and development of personalized healthcare strategies.

[学科分类] 医学（综合）

[关键词] gut microbiota;obesity;functional foods;nutrition