Australasian Biotechnology,
Volume 8 Number 4, July/August 1998, pp. 235-240
Measuring Health Efficacy Of Probiotic And Prebiotic
Foods
Martin J. Playne and Ross G. Crittenden
Code Number:AU98032
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This paper is based on presentations made to the 6th ASEAN
Food Conference, Singapore, November 1997, and to the 14th
Australasian Biotechnology Conference, Glenelg, South
Australia, April 1998
Promotion of the so-called "health foods" has tended to
rely on image of the product rather than on its actual ability
to improve health. This has occurred because regulatory
restrictions in most countries make it difficult to include
health claims on food labels, and also because of the long
time and high cost of conducting animal experiments and human
trials to prove health efficacy. This paper describes the
laboratory tests, fermentor studies, animal models, and human
trials necessary for measuring health efficacy of new
probiotic and prebiotic foods, in order to ensure their
incorporation into functional foods of the future. The
limitations and advantages of the various test systems are
summarised. Knowledge of the identity of the probiotic strains
used is essential.
Copyright 1998 Australian Biotechnology Association Ltd.
