Prebiotics and postbiotics in pediatric clinical application
Prebiotics are substrates that can be selectively utilized by host microorganisms to confer health benefits.Postbiotics are preparations of inanimate microorganisms and/or their related components that provide health benefits to the host.Although the ingredients of the two formulations are different,the mechanism of action is the interaction of prebiotics or postbiotics with the gut microbiota,which endows the host with health benefits.This is particularly important for children,especially for infant disease prevention and healthy growth in early childhood.This article aims to clarify the concepts of prebiotics and postbiotics,discuss their mechanisms of action,and evaluate their clinical application in pediatrics,which will contribute to the in-depth research and application of prebiotics and postbiotics in pediatrics in the future.