“TASTELESS FIBER IS NECESSARY FOR A TASTEFUL LIFE”

Why novel prebiotics are required to maintain gut microbial diversity and human health?
Khansa Ahsan, Ahlam Khalifa, Nayla Munawar
Department of Chemistry, United Arab Emirates University , Al-Ain, UAE
Email: nunawar@uaeu.ac.ae

1. Introduction 2. Current issue

 Non-digestible edible fiber known as
“prebiotics” is required for the nourishment of
gut microbial strains known as “probiotics”.
 Gut microflora is 104 colony forming units
(cfu/g) of various types of microorganisms
 The daily recommended does of dietary fiber is
25-30g/day that can be obtained from several
natural foods (Figure 1).
 The high diversity and abundance of gut
microbial population (Eubiosis) is required for
gastrointestinal, immunity and brain health
(figure 1).
 Increased consumption of
processed food and drugs
resulting in elimination of
healthy gut microflora and
increased pathogenic
microorganisms (dysbiosis)
 Gut microbial dysbiosis
leads to several health issues
including psychiatric Figure 2: Loss of microbial diversity leads gut permeability.
Figure 1: The microbial ecosystem in intestinal track provide
disorders (figure 2). Leaky gut causes inflammation that is associated with wide
health benefits by producing short chain fatty acids (SCFAs),
range of health issues.
vitamins, choline and carnitine etc.

3. Recent strategies and their limitations

Recommendation 4. Demand and our Pharmaceutical applications of
 Use of prebiotics to enhance the growth of gut research activity prebiotics
microflora naturally  Prebiotics that can maintain gut
Food: Switch from Western to Mediterranean diet microbial diversity have huge
that promotes variety of gut microbes through its demand in pharmaceutical industry
nutrients and fiber diversity. (figure 4).
 Required amount of fiber can not be obtained.  Prebiotics market is expected to
Supplements: Selectively enhance the growth of reach US $ 5.4854 billions by 2024.
certain gut microbial population  We are investigating novel
 Lacking the ability to promote the growth of rare prebiotics by physiochemical and Figure 4.

gut microbial species to maintain microbial biochemical techniques for Acknowledgement: We would like to acknowledge the financial
diversity (figure 3). Figure 3: Novel prebiotics are required that can support the
industrial applications. support of United Arab Emirates University (UAEU) for this
growth of diverse microbial populations. project.