Innovative technologies for the production of food ingredients with prebiotic potential: Modifications, applications, and validation methods

摘要

Background: A prebiotic is a substrate that is selectively utilized by host microorganisms conferring a health benefit. Prebiotics are capable of maintaining intestinal health, reducing inflammation in gastrointestinal diseases, improving immune function, and preventing colon cancer. Since prebiotics need to be chemically stable in food processing treatments, different industrial alternatives for the production of prebiotic ingredients without altering their characteristics are being explored. Innovative technologies, such as high hydrostatic pressure, ultrasound, microwave, drying and extrusion, are used to process food products using short processing time and low temperature conditions, to extend the shelf life, and to preserve the nutritional value, sensory quality and food safety.