About this ingredient
Ingredients
Synbiotics are formulations that combine probiotics (live microorganisms) with prebiotics (substrates selectively utilized by beneficial microorganisms) in a single product. Synbiotic products may contain specific probiotic strains along with ingredients such as inulin, fructooligosaccharides (FOS), galactooligosaccharides (GOS), or other prebiotic substrates. The exact strains, amounts, prebiotic ingredients, and formulation vary by product.
Synbiotics combine probiotics and prebiotics in one nutritional formulation. Probiotics are live microorganisms that provide a health benefit when administered in adequate amounts, while prebiotics are substrates selectively utilized by host microorganisms that provide a health benefit. A synbiotic formulation brings these two components together.
A synbiotic product may contain one or more identified probiotic strains together with prebiotic ingredients such as inulin, FOS, GOS, resistant starch, or other fermentable substrates. The specific combination can vary considerably between products, and not every probiotic-plus-fiber combination necessarily meets the scientific definition of a synbiotic.
Synbiotics are commonly used in gut-health, digestive wellness, microbiome, and nutritional supplement formulations. Product labels should identify the probiotic microorganisms and, where relevant, their strain designations and viable amounts, along with the type and quantity of prebiotic ingredients.
Because probiotic strains and prebiotic substrates can have different effects, consumers should avoid assuming that all synbiotic products provide the same benefits. The formulation, strains, doses, storage conditions, and intended use should be evaluated individually.