Table 4.

Major prebiotics, their sources and the basis of bacterial specificity.

Prebiotics	Sources	Specific related bacterial enzyme	Specific bacterial group	Fermented products	References
Inulin type fructans Inulin Oligofructose		β-fructofuranosidase (fructanase)	Bifidobacteria Lactobacilli Bacteroides	Acetate, lactate Lactate Acetate, propionate	(146) (143) (149)
	Chicory (inulin)
	Enzymatic hydrolysis of inulin Oligofructose
Fructo-oligosaccharides (FOS)	Enzymatic synthesis from sucrose FOS	β-Galactosidase	Bifidobacterial	Acetate, lactate	(141, 142, 144, 145)