Abstract: Prebiotics play a significant role in regulating the intestinal microbiota. Increasing amounts of research data, clinical trial results, and widespread reports have documented the beneficial effects of prebiotics in the prevention and interventional treatment of chronic metabolic and immune diseases, such as irritable bowel syndrome, diabetes, and obesity. Taking into consideration of the development trend of precise nutrition, it is foreseeable that prebiotics will have a significant impact on the emerging industry of microbiota (or microecological) health care. This paper reviews the latest research findings and presents a functional paradigm of prebiotic action with focus on the evolving concept of prebiotics. A better understanding of the physiological mechanisms involved can help to define and develop the concept of ‘precision prebiotics’ that represents an outgrowth of precise nutrition. This highlights the necessity of studying the properties, components, and structures of prebiotics and exploring the relationship among prebiotic composition, bacterial species and physiological functions. Moreover, ascertaining the mechanism of action of prebiotics at the molecular level of cell biology will help with personalized prebiotic formulation and nutritional intake plan that enhance and ensure the health of each individual.

Key words: prebiotic, precision, precision nutrition, research progress