The initial aim of ILSI Europe Prebiotics Task Force was to understand the science around prebiotics and how they impact gut microbiota and, thus, the host’s health. As one of ILSI Europe’s oldest Task Force, its objectives evolved over the years depending on hot scientific topics. The evolution of the prebiotic concept and definition gave rise to different systematic reviews on the structure of interactions between prebiotics and gut microbiota, the COVID pandemic pushed us to work on the role of prebiotics in infectious disease, the rise of GLP1 therapeutics worldwide sparked the idea of our workshop on prebiotics, weight management and GLP1 actual concern. The Task Force gets inspired by the trends coming from the academic researchers, and from the customers through the industry participants. Altogether, the main objective is to connect science to industrial reality, and shed light on relevant health benefits that can be achieved with prebiotics.

The scientific challenges for prebiotics sciences have been multiplied by the recent discoveries that next generation sequencing and multiomics technologies allowed. As the definition of prebiotics includes both the impact on gut microbiota AND the health impact on the host, our Task Force is the perfect place to investigate the different X-gut axis that were recently described. Priority topics are voted for by the academic and industry members after discussions and exchanges, which ensure that the activities balance pure scientific knowledge and industrial interest, and address a public health interest.

For ingredients (prebiotics) producers, a big challenge resides in the differentiation from competition, which sometimes leads to abusive scientific extrapolations. Here, ILSI Europe helps guarantee the scientific reliability. It allows industrial scientists to access a kind of scientific validation by the academic experts, and avoid misleading communication.

For prebiotics users (final food product industries), the main challenge is to find the right prebiotic ingredients for their targeted application. They have to navigate between incorrect or missing information on health benefits, ingredient characterization, and resistance to food process. Here, ILSI Europe also ensures access to reliable information.

The scientific landscape is constantly changing because gut microbiota is like a new universe to explore. Prebiotics are a way to communicate with this complex and important “blackbox”. Consequently, there is a high interest for more scientific knowledge on prebiotics, which requires boundaries to avoid abusive extrapolation.

The regulatory landscape, on the other hand, is much more challenging. There is yet no recognition by European regulatory authorities of “biotics” terms –such as probiotics, prebiotics, synbiotics and postbiotics– as a label. To date, no health claim was approved for probiotics. By strengthening scientific communication and by harmonizing messages around prebiotics, our Task Force can help address the gap between the scientific level related to microbiota and the recognition by the regulatory authorities.

The Task Force’s high level publications throughout the years are each a great achievement. The different events organised by ILSI Europe also always succeed in gathering a huge amount of scientists from both academies and institutions. These workshops and symposia have sparked constructive discussions that initiated numerous projects: collaborations between academies and industries, European projects, etc…

I am convinced that our workshop around weight management and GLP1 treatments will be a success to gather specialists of food intake control and experts of gut microbiota, so that high level discussions may take place. Our coming publication on gut microbiota metabolites will also allow to extend general knowledge further than usual short chain fatty acids described and used in many trials. It is important to increase awareness on other biomarkers that could be used to better describe the impact of prebiotics on health.

I expect the concept of prebiotics will significantly evolve in the coming years. Traditionally, prebiotics were defined as non-digestible fibres that promote the growth of beneficial gut bacteria. However, future research will likely expand this definition to include a wider range of substances, such as polyphenols and other bioactive compounds. Advances in microbiome science and personalised nutrition will enable the development of targeted prebiotic therapies tailored to individual needs. Furthermore, the role of prebiotics in supporting overall health, immune function, and even mental well-being will become increasingly recognised, making prebiotics an essential component of preventive healthcare strategies.

Prebiotics are set to play a key role in future nutritional strategies due to their profound impact on gut health and overall well-being. By selectively stimulating the growth of beneficial gut bacteria, prebiotics can improve digestion, enhance nutrient absorption, and strengthen the immune system. As our understanding of the gut microbiome deepens, I’m convinced that nutritionists and healthcare professionals will increasingly incorporate prebiotics into personalised diets to prevent and manage various health issues, including metabolic disorders and inflammation. This growing focus on gut health means prebiotics will become a cornerstone of preventive nutrition, helping people maintain optimal health and reduce the risk of chronic diseases.