The Future of Synbiotics: Rational Formulation and Design

Abstract

Synbiotics, mixtures of live microbes and substrates selectively utilized by host organisms, are of considerable interest due to their ability to improve gastrointestinal health. However, formulating synbiotics remains challenging, due in part, to the absence of rational strategies to assess these products for synbiotic activities prior to clinical trials. Currently, synbiotics are formulated as either complementary or synergistic. Complementary synbiotics are made by combining probiotics and prebiotics, with each component acting independently and with the combination shown to provide a clinical health benefit. Most commercial synbiotics as well as those used in clinical trials have been of the complementary type. In contrast, synergistic synbiotics require that the added microbe is specifically stimulated or it’s persistence or activity are enhanced by the cognate substrate. Although several innovative examples have been described in the past few years based on this principle, in practice, relatively few synbiotic studies have tested for synergism. In this review, selected recent examples of complementary and synergistic synbiotics and the rationale for their formulation will be described. In addition, pre-clinical experimental approaches for identifying combinations that provide a basis for satisfying the requirements for synergism will be discussed.

An Overview of the Public Health Challenges in Diagnosing and Controlling Human Foodborne Pathogens

“…A properly constructed synergistic synbiotic can likewise prove to be an effective way to turn non-responders into responders, and therefore, foster the efficacy of therapy across a wider client base while enhancing therapy success rates. As shown in Figure 4, a synergistic synbiotic is a combination of probiotics and prebiotics that work together to improve the health of the gut microbiome [284]. This can lead to improved digestion, better nutrient absorption, and reduced inflammation, all of which can help the body better respond to therapies.…”

Synbiotic Combination between Lactobacillus paracasei VL8 and Mannan-Oligosaccharide Repairs the Intestinal Barrier in the Dextran Sulfate Sodium-Induced Colitis Model by Regulating the Intestinal Stem Cell Niche

“…Notably, at the intervention doses presented in this study, an increase in tight junction protein expression was also observed in the MOS or VL8 groups, and the difference in gut barrier repair effect between the three treatment groups was not statistically significant. Therefore, the product meets the definition of a complementary synbiotic, but not a synergistic synbiotic, according to the consensus statement published by International Scientific Association for Probiotics and Prebiotics (ISAPP). , …”

“…Therefore, the product meets the definition of a complementary synbiotic, but not a synergistic synbiotic, according to the consensus statement published by International Scientific Association for Probiotics and Prebiotics (ISAPP). 46,47 In clinical reports, complementary synbiotics, when used as alternative or complementary therapies for patients with UC, have been shown to provide benefits by decreasing the levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines associated with the pathophysiology of UC, mainly through activation of gut microbial metabolism and increasing the abundance of beneficial bacteria. 24,48 In this study, the abundance of the genus Lactobacillus, particularly L. murinus and L. reuteri, has significantly increased in the SYN group.…”

Gastrointestinal microbiota-directed nutritional and therapeutic interventions for inflammatory bowel disease: opportunities and challenges

“…The future of synbiotics relies on a methodical formulation and design process. This involves the careful selection of synbiotics that harmonize and enhance each other's effects, guided by their specific mechanisms of action and the intended health benefits [ 65 ].…”