Cultured views from Probiota 2015 in Amsterdam

Expert insights: What is the future for probiotics and prebiotics?

By Nathan Gray

- Last updated on GMT

Related tags Bacteria Gut flora Probiotic

Probiotics, prebiotics, and microbiome science are big business, and already generate a great deal of scientific and commercial interest. But what does the future have in story for the sector?

Recent years have brought about a raft of scientific studies that suggest links between our gut microbiota and different disease risk factors and health conditions. But with much of this research in its infancy still, many are left wondering what the future may hold for probiotics and prebiotics.

We asked experts at the recent Probiota 2015 conference to share their opinions on the most promising and exciting things to look out for in the coming years.

Dr Bart Degeest, managing director of Yakult Belgium told NutraIngredients that research on gut permeability, obesity and anxiety are all interesting developments, but that the most important thing for the future will be to ensure regulations allow the category to still function.

“I think, before we are there, we first need recognition of the category at least,”​ said Degeest.

Camilla Stice, research analyst at Lux Research suggested that there may be a future focus on symbiotic relationships between pro- and prebiotics, while Professor Bob Rastall from the University of Reading told us that the potential to modify mood and anxiety via changes in gut bacteria is an exciting area of research for the future.

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