As different studies have suggested, combining probiotics and prebiotics in what has been called a synbiotic could beneficially affect the host by 1) improving survival and implantation of live microbial dietary supplements in the gastro-intestinal flora, 2) selectively stimulating the growth or activating the catabolism of one or a limited number of health-promoting bacteria in the GIT, and 3) improving the gastro-intestinal tract’s microbial balance. However, the creation of a synbiotic food has not been investigated. Combining probiotics with prebiotics could improve the survival of the bacteria crossing the upper part of the gastro-intestinal tract, thus enhancing their effects in the large bowel. Moreover, probiotic and prebiotic effects might be additive or even synergistic. This has been the case when combining the anti-carcinogenic effects of inulin and bifidobacteria in experimental animals.
A large number of researches have focused on the production and bifidogenic effects of inulin and less on synbiotic foods. Hence, further research is required to focus on the combination of prebiotics and probiotics in development of new dairy products on and the task for assessment of the viability of commercial probiotic cultures in the presence of these prebiotic compounds. The emergence of new analytical techniques such as metabolite profiling has revealed new pathways affected by dietary intervention. However, an important challenge for current and future research is to relate changes in bacterial metabolism to concrete health benefits. Potential targets and expected benefits have been identified: reduced risk for the metabolic syndrome and prevention of colorectal cancer.