About this Research Topic
With societal development and improved living standards, the demand for food has evolved to concerns about healthiness, functionality, and safety. Over the past two decades, there has been increasing interest in probiotics, defined as "live microorganisms", which, when consumed in adequate amounts, confer a health effect on the host." Probiotics are typically introduced as active dietary supplements but are also present in fermented foods through active microbial communities.
Recently, probiotic functional foods have gathered significant attention as a new type of food with beneficial effects on human health. Numerous studies have shown that probiotic functional foods have great potential to improve digestive health, enhance immunity, and regulate intestinal flora balance.
Beyond their health benefits, probiotics are becoming increasingly valuable in food preservation. Microbial-induced food spoilage is a major cause of food waste. However, probiotics can act as potential bio-preservatives, directly or indirectly inhibiting the growth of pathogenic fungi or bacteria. This can significantly reduce food spoilage and enhance food safety.
This Research Topic aims to compile scientific papers that elucidate the mechanisms by which probiotics used in food can improve human health by enhancing the bio-functionality and nutrient content of food. Additionally, it seeks to explore how probiotics can improve the shelf life of food. We invite scientists and experts to submit their original research, review, or mini-review articles. By gathering these research contributions, we aim to better serve the food industry.
To gather further insights into the role of probiotics in human health and food preservation, we welcome articles addressing, but not limited to, the following themes:
• Benefits of probiotics in human health
• Impact of probiotics on the food bio-function and nutrients
• Application of probiotics in food products, including crops and their products, fresh fruit/vegetables and their products, etc.
• Probiotics and their metabolites
• Isolation and functional analysis of new probiotics
• New probiotic foods
Recently, probiotic functional foods have gathered significant attention as a new type of food with beneficial effects on human health. Numerous studies have shown that probiotic functional foods have great potential to improve digestive health, enhance immunity, and regulate intestinal flora balance.
Beyond their health benefits, probiotics are becoming increasingly valuable in food preservation. Microbial-induced food spoilage is a major cause of food waste. However, probiotics can act as potential bio-preservatives, directly or indirectly inhibiting the growth of pathogenic fungi or bacteria. This can significantly reduce food spoilage and enhance food safety.
This Research Topic aims to compile scientific papers that elucidate the mechanisms by which probiotics used in food can improve human health by enhancing the bio-functionality and nutrient content of food. Additionally, it seeks to explore how probiotics can improve the shelf life of food. We invite scientists and experts to submit their original research, review, or mini-review articles. By gathering these research contributions, we aim to better serve the food industry.
To gather further insights into the role of probiotics in human health and food preservation, we welcome articles addressing, but not limited to, the following themes:
• Benefits of probiotics in human health
• Impact of probiotics on the food bio-function and nutrients
• Application of probiotics in food products, including crops and their products, fresh fruit/vegetables and their products, etc.
• Probiotics and their metabolites
• Isolation and functional analysis of new probiotics
• New probiotic foods
Keywords: Probiotics, bio-function, food preservation, food safety, nutrition, human health
Important Note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.
