Probiotics and Prebiotics: Concepts, Definitions and History - Aquaculture Nutrition: Gut Health, Probiotics and Prebiotics - page 180

7.4 SYNBIOTICS
Synbiotics are nutritional supplements that contain both a prebiotic and a probiotic that work
together and beneficially affect the host by improving the survival and implantation of live
microbial dietary supplements in the GI tract (Gibson and Roberfroid 1995). The consen-
sus is that prebiotics are able to prepare the ground for probiotics to become established by
modulating the endogenous microbial community and/or by directly providing a competitive
advantage for the probiotic being supplied, if it is able to ferment the prebiotic. This has led to
a new avenue of research which is becoming well documented in terrestrial animals, but very
little information is available for aquatic species.
7.5 SUMMARY
In terms of definition, both probiotics and prebiotics are viewed as feed additives or dietary sup-
plements providing scope for more robust nutrition without the need for antibiotic-type growth
promoters, which have been banned from use within the EU since January 2006. This classifi-
cation has been extended to include various unicellular algae and yeasts as well as phytobiotic
chemicals and natural agents from exotic sources and products from marine biotechnology,
especially from marine macroalgae such as seaweeds (Courtois 2009). Additionally, both pro-
biotics and prebiotics are considered new ingredients in fish feed manufacturing. Their use is
extended far beyond finfish, and they have been used in experimental and/or commercial diets
for crustacea, molluscs, echinoderms and live feed enrichment. Hence, the aquaculture indus-
try has great expectations from the use of such additives to produce superior quality products
for human consumption.
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