Functional dietary fibres help promote intestinal health and support inner defencein youngsters, and throughout life.Prebiotics are a group of fermentable fibres that promote the growth of beneficial intestinal bacteria, to improve digestive functions.
However, the beneficial effects go far beyond the function in the intestine – it can positively impact other bodily functions as well.
In Asia, 77% of consumers say that they recognize the link between digestive health and their overall health, as healthy diet habits continue to accelerate to become the norm.
Children in particular can benefit from the positive effects of prebiotic dietary fibres from the day they are born.
Strong in defence
The intestine is the largest organ to aid the body’s own defence system. While it is virtually sterile at birth, bacterial species quickly colonise it to form so-called microbiota in the gut. This is a critical and essential process, as it may positively impact health in later life by potentially reducing the risk of obesity, inflammatory bowel disease and allergies. In addition to helping regulate the body’s inner defence system, the beneficial bacteria also compete with pathogenic germs, thus having a positive influence on intestinal health.
The few scientifically recognised prebiotic dietary fibres that aid this process include natural chicory root fibre, inulin and oligofructose, and synthetically produced galactooligosaccharides.
Inulin is a non-digestible carbohydrate that occurs naturally in many fruits and vegetables, with chicory root an abundant source. As these fibres are not broken down in the small intestine and therefore reach the large intestine intact, they serve as “food” for the beneficial intestinal bacteria. The subsequent fermenting process in the gut produces short-chain fatty acids which have a positive effect on the intestinal tract, and that helps maintain the intestinal mucosa while inhibiting the presence of undesirable bacteria.
But the prebiotic effect doesn’t just improve digestive health – in fact, intact intestinal flora positively influencesmany other bodily functions too.
Latest scientific findings prove, for example, that healthy intestinal flora can improve mental function, as well as assist with the absorption of vital nutrients. That’s why it is essential to nourish and strengthen the beneficial ingredients with the aid of prebiotic ingredients.
Nature has long since known the benefits of these ingredients. So-called human milk oligosaccharides (HMOs), found in breast milk, are the first prebiotics a baby will ever have. After fats and lactose, these special oligo- and polysaccharides make up the third largest proportion of the “solid” components of breast milk. They help the child to develop a good and healthy digestive system. Scientific studies indicate that these soluble fibres have a positive influence on the inner defence system too. It is thought that they minimize both the incidence of infectious diseases and inflammatory reactions. Thus, the prebiotic oligosaccharides in breast milk, together with defence-promoting ingredients such as antibodies, help strengthen the inner defence system of breastfed babies in the most natural way possible.
An overall health booster
Even after breastfeeding, children can continue to benefit from the positive properties of prebiotics.
In general, dietary fibres promote digestive health by increasing stool volume, improving stool consistency and supporting regular bowel movements. Our digestive system also benefits from prebiotic dietary fibres in other ways: the short-chain fatty acids produced by fermentation supply the large intestine mucosa with nutrients, and thus support the intestinal barrier function. In addition, they stimulate intestinal motility and digestive activity, so that unwanted food components remain in the intestine for a shorter time. They also lower the pH value of the intestinal environment and thus make it more difficult for undesirable bacteria to settle.
Scientific studies indicate that inulin and oligofructose can also have positive effects on the inner defence system beyond the intestine. For example, a study showed that regular ingestion of oligofructose was associated with fewer fevers, fewer visits to the doctor due to symptoms associated with diarrhoea, fewer febrile colds and a reduced need for antibiotics in children aged 4-24 months. In a further publication and meta-analysis on studies conducted on children aged 0-24 months, the total number of illnesses requiring antibiotics was significantly lower when prebiotics were regularly administered .
Benefits for all ages
These results are confirmed by a current intervention study which shows that 6g of prebiotic dietary fibre (Orafti® Inulin, BENEO) from the chicory root promotes digestive health and strengthens the resistance of children between three and six years of age, during the winter months.
Regular intake of Orafti® Inulin from the chicory root increased the number of bifidobacteria and lactobacilli known as “good” intestinal bacteria during the study period. Compared to the control group, fever-related episodes requiring a visit to the doctor, as well as sinusitis, occurred significantly less frequently. Another recent scientific study revealed that during antibiotic treatment, prebiotic chicory root fibres keep the level of beneficial bifidobacteria stable or even high because they reduce the usual antibiotic-induced disturbances in the gut microbiota composition.
Prebiotic ingredients improve the health of children long-term too, because as well asthe inner defence-boosting effect on intestinal health, they alsohelp with calcium absorption and thus bone density, and regulate satiety, therefore aiding weight management. Maintaining a healthy weight is important in order to reduce obesity-related health risks, such as heart disease, certain cancers and type 2 diabetes, as well as possible resulting mental health issues.
In conclusion, prebiotic fibres such as inulin and oligofructose naturally promote the intestinal health of children, and are vital for digestive health and wellbeing both in the early years and throughout life.
