Diet and Flora Gut Flashcards
Q: What is a functional food?
A: A food or food ingredient with positive effects on host health beyond its nutritional value.
Q: Name some examples of functional foods and ingredients.
A: Foods: oats, soy, broccoli, whole grains. Ingredients: omega-3s, probiotics, prebiotics, lycopene, isoflavones.
Q: Where is gut microflora mainly located?
A: In the colon, with over 1,000 species, many of which are unculturable and newly identified.
Q: What are some beneficial gut bacteria?
A: Lactobacilli and bifidobacteria.
Q: How does the gut get colonized with bacteria?
A: Starts at birth through the birth canal and breast milk, then changes with age and diet.
Q: What is the role of normal gut flora?
A: Nutrient supply, immune support, pathogen protection.
Q: What causes disruption of normal gut flora?
A: Diet, antibiotics, stress, age, radiotherapy, and reduced immunity.
Q: What is a probiotic?
A: Live microorganisms that confer health benefits when consumed in adequate amounts.
Q: What are criteria for selecting probiotic strains?
A: Non-pathogenic, survive gastric conditions, adhere to gut surface, colonize, and be safe for consumption.
Q: Give examples of probiotic species.
A: Lactobacillus acidophilus, L. plantarum, Bifidobacterium bifidum, B. longum, B. infantis.
Q: What are health benefits of probiotics?
A: Prevent and treat diarrhea, support gut health, modulate immunity.
Q: Recommended daily probiotic intake?
A: 100g of probiotic food with 10⁷ CFU/g for continued effectiveness.
Q: What is a prebiotic?
A: A non-digestible food ingredient that selectively stimulates growth/activity of beneficial gut bacteria.
Q: Criteria for prebiotics?
A: Not digested in upper GIT, selective for beneficial bacteria, alter microflora toward healthier profile.
Q: Examples of prebiotics?
A: Inulin, fructo-oligosaccharides, lactulose, soybean oligosaccharides, GOS, XOS.
Q: What are synbiotics?
A: Combinations of probiotics and prebiotics, e.g., Bifidobacteria + FOS, Lactobacillus GG + inulins.
