A delicate balance exists between the human intestinal microflora and its host. Upset of this community structure may
lead toward the symptoms of acute gastroenteritis, and there is also the possibility of more chronic disorders (inflammatorybowel disease, colonic cancer). It is therefore important that gut microflora interactions be controlled and sustained in an optimal manner. Many different environmental factors may affect the gut microbial ecology; these include diet, medication,stress, age and general living conditions. Knowledge of the gut microflora and its interactions has led to the development of dietary strategies that serve to sustain, or even improve normal gastrointestinal microbiology. Both probiotics and prebiotics are popular concepts that have been developed
to target the gastrointestinal microflora