Prebiotics are substrates selectively utilised by the host microbiome conferring a health benefits to the host. They may:

1. Enhance gastrointestinal immune function and competitive inhibition of pathogens (help an athlete be more resistant to infections i.e., traveller’s diarrhoea² and UTIs)
2. Improve bowel function³
3. Have some anti-colon cancer properties³
4. Have some lipid lowering effects⁴
5. Improve glucose tolerance⁴