Introduction

Notable properties of the gut microbiota include its functionality and resilience1. A stable gut community protects the host against invading microorganisms and helps maintain homeostasis, including immune regulation. Nonetheless, disruptions occur owing to dietary shifts, antibiotic use, age or infection, leading to a gut microbiota that can contribute to a range of inflammatory, pathogenic and metabolic conditions such as inflammatory bowel diseases, colorectal cancer, metabolic syndrome and atopy2. Several strategies have been proposed to modulate the composition and/or function of the gut microbiota, including faecal microbiota transplants, the application of probiotics and other live microorganisms, and the use of non-digestible dietary substrates such as prebiotics3,4.

When the synbiotic concept was first described 25 years ago, the notion that selectively fermentable non-digestible food ingredients (prebiotics) could be combined with probiotics was envisioned5. Thus, synbiotics were loosely defined as mixtures of “probiotics and prebiotics that beneficially affect the host”5. The term itself was formed from the Greek prefix ‘syn’, meaning ‘together’ and the suffix ‘biotic’, meaning ‘pertaining to life’. Despite the availability of similarly worded definitions, confusion exists among stakeholders, including scientists, about what constitutes a synbiotic6,7,8,9. A general misunderstanding might have been, in part, because the original definition itself — that is, “mixtures of probiotics and prebiotics that beneficially affect the host by improving the survival and implantation of live microbial dietary supplements in the gastrointestinal tract, by selectively stimulating the growth and/or by activating the metabolism of one or a limited number of health-promoting bacteria, thus improving host welfare” — was too wordy and lacked precision5. In addition, the expansion of the entire ‘–biotics’ category, including terms such as postbiotic10 and pharmabiotic11, almost certainly further contributes to confusion. To provide clarity and guidance regarding appropriate use of the term ‘synbiotic’, in May 2019, the International Scientific Association for Probiotics and Prebiotics (ISAPP) convened an expert panel of academic scientists to address the current status of synbiotics, including its definition. The outcomes of that meeting and subsequent discussions comprise this Consensus Statement. A summary of key conclusions is shown in Box 1. Herein, we consider applicable efficacy and mechanistic evidence on combination probiotic plus prebiotic products, we recommend the research needed to establish a ‘synbiotic’ formulation, discuss the safety considerations, and reflect on implications for stakeholders of the synbiotic concept.

Methods

ISAPP is a non-profit collaboration of scientists dedicated to advancing scientific excellence and providing objective, science-based information on probiotics and prebiotics. The organization’s activities are funded by companies involved in the sale of probiotics and prebiotics, but ISAPP is guided by an international, all-volunteer academic board that functions independently. This ISAPP-organized panel was composed of experts in microbiology, nutrition and gastrointestinal physiology, including many who were involved in the latest updates of the probiotic12 and prebiotic13 definitions according to ISAPP. Panellists were charged with accomplishing the following goals: consider what a synbiotic is and provide a clear, concise and testable definition; suggest the appropriate experimental conditions necessary to establish synbiotic activity; describe the evidence required to demonstrate the health benefits and establish safety; and provide guidance for stakeholders, including researchers, industry, public health professionals and regulatory agencies.

Prior to the meeting, panellists developed a discussion outline and target questions. During the meeting, panellists presented the perspectives and evidence regarding the core issues involved. Debate ensued until a consensus was achieved. After the meeting, individual panellists wrote sections of the summary, which were compiled by K.S.S., G.R.G., R.H. and M.E.S. into a draft report. This document was edited and agreed upon by all panel members. The authors would like to thank members of the ISAPP board of directors who did not directly participate in this consensus panel but who reviewed, criticized and approved this manuscript: D. Merenstein, H. Szajewska, M. Marco, E. Quigley, S. Lebeer and S. Salminen.

An updated definition

The panel updated the definition of a synbiotic to “a mixture comprising live microorganisms and substrate(s) selectively utilized by host microorganisms that confers a health benefit on the host”. ‘Host’ microorganisms in this context include both autochthonous microorganisms (resident or colonizing the host) and allochthonous microorganisms (externally applied, such as probiotics), which, even if transiently present, do constitute a component of the host microbiota.

The panel considered defining synbiotics as simply a mixture of probiotics and prebiotics. Common to the definition of both probiotics and prebiotics is the requirement that each independently provides a health benefit and the dose of each must be adequate to independently achieve those benefit(s). However, the panel recognized the possibility that a functional synbiotic could be formulated at doses below those at which the probiotic or prebiotic could independently exert health benefits. Alternatively, a particular microorganism might lack probiotic functions even at high dosages owing to competition or other ecological effects but, in the presence of a suitable substrate, could provide a health benefit. Likewise, a novel substrate, again even at high doses, might not by itself provide benefits but could do so when combined with a selected live microorganism(s) that it can enhance. Such formulations comprise a live microorganism and a substrate that depend on the presence of one another and function in concert. Simply put, the microbial component does not necessarily have to be a standalone probiotic and the non-digestible substrate does not necessarily have to be a standalone prebiotic, but, if together they provide a health benefit, then the mixture can be called a synbiotic. This proposed definition of a synbiotic should encourage innovation in formulations by not requiring that component parts meet the strict definitions of either a probiotic or a prebiotic.

However, the panel also recognized that a current common usage of the term synbiotic includes products that combine a probiotic and a prebiotic. Such a combination product might not have any evidence of co-dependent function but is instead designed for the components to work independently to promote an observed health benefit(s). The panel agreed that such a formulation could be considered a synbiotic, provided that components meet the respective probiotic12 and prebiotic13 definitions (Fig. 1). Thus, the probiotic strain(s) is chosen based on the benefits that it provides to the host, while the prebiotic is designed to promote the growth and activities of beneficial members of the indigenous microbiota and provide a health benefit14. Furthermore, a combination of probiotic plus prebiotic must be tested to confirm that a health benefit is conferred by the combined formulation compared with a placebo. Otherwise, the product should not be labelled a synbiotic. Based on these qualifiers, the panel retained the definition that a combination of a probiotic and a prebiotic be denoted as a complementary synbiotic (discussed later)14.

Fig. 1: Synbiotic categories.
figure 1

Synbiotics can be formulated using two approaches. A complementary synbiotic comprises a probiotic plus a prebiotic (more than one of each can be used), working independently to achieve one or more health benefits. Probiotic and prebiotic components of the complementary synbiotic must meet the minimum criteria, as stipulated previously12,13. A synergistic synbiotic is composed of a live microorganism and a selectively utilized substrate but neither needs to meet the minimum criteria stipulated previously for probiotics and prebiotics. Instead, these components are designed to work together, with the substrate being selectively utilized by the co-administered microorganism. The panel considered whether all synbiotics should be synergistic. However, the absence of such substances today speaks to the difficulty of achieving the required evidence. The panel judged that it was more important for the definition to be useful rather than hypothetical.

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The other type of synbiotic previously envisioned is a synergistic synbiotic, which is a synbiotic in which the substrate is designed to be selectively utilized by the co-administered microorganisms. To be a synergistic synbiotic, the live microorganism is selected based on its ability to provide a health benefit and the substrate is chosen to primarily support the growth or activity of that selected microorganism14. Although the substrate might also enrich other beneficial members of the gastrointestinal microbiota, its main target is the ingested microorganism.

Designing and demonstrating the efficacy of a synergistic synbiotic is experimentally challenging. To our knowledge, nearly all synbiotics used in published clinical trials or available commercially are of the complementary form15, irrespective of whether they have been deliberately designed or named as such. Approaches to designing complementary and synergistic synbiotics are shown in Fig. 2.

Fig. 2: Design and mechanisms of action of complementary and synergistic synbiotics.
figure 2

Two approaches to designing synbiotics are represented here. The complementary approach combines a prebiotic and a probiotic that work independently to elicit one or more health benefits. The prebiotic and probiotic must each meet applicable criteria (Table 3). The prebiotic functions by modulating the resident microbiota in a manner associated with an improved health outcome. The synergistic approach selects a substrate that is utilized by the co-administered live microorganism, enhancing its functionality. Synergistic synbiotics work together (not independently) to bring about the resulting health benefits.

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It is important to clarify that, although synbiotics can be formulated to provide synergistic activities, the ‘syn’ prefix in the word ‘synbiotic’ is not intended to imply synergy; it means ‘together’. Of note, the term ‘symbiotic’ is often misused in this context and is not the same as synbiotic. Symbiotic, as used in biology16, refers to an ecological relationship in which one organism (the symbiont) lives in a long-term relationship in a natural ecosystem with another organism (the host), that is, in symbiosis.

Characterization needed for synbiotics

A synbiotic should be characterized to the extent needed to ensure safety and a consistent performance. Live microbial component(s) of the synbiotic should have a publicly available genome sequence and annotation, be assessed for any genes of safety concern (for example, toxin production or transferrable antibiotic resistance), named using current taxonomic nomenclature and carry a traceable strain designation. The strain(s) should also be deposited into a recognized international culture collection that permits access by scientists to conduct research. In short, the safety, identity, purity and potency of the live microorganism should be clearly and accurately described according to the best available methods that meet applicable regulatory standards for the product category.

The structure and purity of the substrate should be stated and characterized by appropriate chemical analyses. This process includes testing for microbial and other contaminants as per regulatory standards for the country of sale. The level of purity required will depend on what is needed to ensure a consistent performance and safety of the product. The level of active substrate in commercial preparations of prebiotics available worldwide ranges considerably, often from 35% to 99%17,18,19. The monosaccharides and disaccharides carried over from the production process that are present in prebiotic preparations are typically digested and absorbed by the host in the upper gastrointestinal tract after oral ingestion. A relevant issue is whether the material used in the formulation is sufficient to deliver a consistent dose of the active component and result in reproducible selective utilization by microorganisms and beneficial health effect(s) in the target host. This issue highlights that studies should communicate the content of the active ingredient being tested in addition to the quantity of the overall product. For example, a 6 g dosage of 50% pure galacto-oligosaccharides would provide 3 g of the active substrate and should be reported as such.

The active ingredients of a synbiotic must be sufficiently stable. Ensuring stability of the live microbial component of a synbiotic can be challenging20. When live microorganisms are combined with a substrate(s) in a matrix (for example, liquid, dried or ointment), the burden is on manufacturers to ensure that the dosage of the live microorganism required to confer the stated health benefit is delivered throughout the shelf-life. Live microorganism viability is highly dependent on the matrix, storage temperature, pH and oxygen level of the product: for liquid products, the shelf-life might be as short as 1–2 weeks, for lyophilized or encapsulated products, the shelf-life might be as long as 2 years. Packaging and storage conditions must control critical factors, such as water activity and temperature, through production to distribution and usage. Furthermore, a synbiotic must undergo assessment of safety for the intended use, as described later.

Current levels of evidence

Numerous randomized controlled trials (RCTs) in humans across a range of populations, from healthy individuals to those with acute and chronic diseases, have been conducted to examine the health benefits of putative synbiotics. Many trials have been conducted in adults with metabolic diseases, including overweight and obesity21,22, type 2 diabetes mellitus23,24 and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease25,26. Other outcomes, such as irritable bowel syndrome27, surgical infections28,29, chronic kidney disease30,31 and atopic dermatitis32, have also been investigated. Consequently, many systematic reviews and meta-analyses of RCTs evaluating the effect of putative synbiotics on disease targets have been published22,23,32,33,34,35 and this approach is an accepted means of evaluating the evidence for health benefits36,37,38. Examples are given in Table 1, which focuses on RCTs demonstrating benefits. Null trials have also been published across a variety of outcomes, including, for example, some studies aimed at the prevention of surgical infections39,40, treatment of obesity41, management of gestational diabetes mellitus42 and eradication of Helicobacter pylori infection43,44. However, evidence of a health benefit is not in itself sufficient to call a formulation of live microorganism(s) plus selectively utilized substrate(s) a ‘synbiotic’. Concomitant evidence of selective utilization by either the endogenous microbiota (complementary synbiotic) or the co-administered live microorganism (synergistic synbiotic) must also be generated.

Table 1 Human trials of orally administered combinations of live microorganisms and a substrate reporting health outcomes
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Across studies, species from the genera Lactobacillus, Bifidobacterium and Streptococcus are the most commonly used live microorganisms within the formulations tested. The substrate components are usually galacto-oligosaccharides, inulin or fructo-oligosaccharides but doses vary considerably, from as low as 100 mg to as much as 10–15 g per day. For example, in a double-blind RCT, twice daily consumption of a synbiotic composed of Lactobacillus acidophilus 10 (109 CFU), Lactobacillus rhamnosus HS111 (109 CFU), Lactobacillus casei 10 (109 CFU), Bifidobacterium bifidum (109 CFU) and fructo-oligosaccharides (100 mg) 4 days before and 10 days after surgery for periampullary neoplasms resulted in a lower number of postoperative infections, a shorter duration of antibiotic therapy, fewer non-infectious complications, shorter length of hospital stay and reduced mortality than in patients receiving a placebo (sucrose)45. Although such low doses would not be expected to provide a prebiotic effect in complementary synbiotics, they could, in theory, be sufficient to stimulate a cognate microorganism in a synergistic synbiotic formulation. In one RCT46 of 225 adults with overweight and obesity, a combination of Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis 420 and polydextrose (12 g per day) resulted in a relative reduction in body fat mass of 4.5%, whereas the individual treatments had no effect. However, selective utilization was not established in this study. Thus, by itself, this study does not provide sufficient evidence that the tested combination was either a complementary or a synergistic synbiotic.

In general, the appropriate dose, duration and composition of a synbiotic needed to confer a health benefit are likely to be specific to the context, including outcome and baseline host target site microbiota47, as well as coexisting environmental factors such as medication, habitual diet and, perhaps, yet-to-be-identified host genetic factors.

Necessary evidence for synbiotics

A synbiotic must contain a live microorganism and a selectively utilized substrate. For complementary synbiotics, the respective components must fulfil the evidence and dose requirements for both a probiotic and prebiotic. Furthermore, the combination must be shown in an appropriately designed trial to confer a health benefit in the target host. A product containing a probiotic and a prebiotic that only has evidence for each component individually, and not as a combination product, should not be called a synbiotic. A key evidentiary requirement for a synergistic synbiotic is that there be at least one appropriately designed study of the synbiotic in the target host that demonstrates both selective utilization of the substrate and a health benefit (Box 2).

Generating this evidence requires appropriately designed, adequately powered experimental trials conducted on the target host. These studies should follow standard human trial design and reporting guidelines48 and consider best practices for diet–microbiota research49. The study should also meet the criteria outlined in CONSORT48 and should be registered, including a description of all outcomes, prior to recruitment. These CONSORT criteria include guiding principles for microorganisms, microbiota-related compliance and outcome measures, relevant subgroups, and statistical considerations for evaluating the microbiota as a mediator of clinical effects.

Ideally, the health benefit of a synbiotic would be superadditive, that is, it would exceed the benefit observed for the sum of the individual components. However, owing to the difficulties in demonstrating different levels of health benefit in an efficacy trial, the panel did not insist upon this aspect. Instead, we advocate requiring a measurable, confirmed health benefit of the synbiotic, which is conferred, at least in part, through selective utilization of the substrate(s) provided in the synbiotic. Although in vitro and animal models are used frequently to test the effects of probiotics, prebiotics and synbiotics50,51,52,53, it is our position that these have not been fully validated as predictive and that definitive tests of these interventions must be performed in the target host. Of course, model experiments can add mechanistic insights, in particular in cases for which available samples from studies in the target host have limited usefulness (for example, faeces, which are not reflective of upstream intestinal microbial or metabolic activities).

As noted, it is required that the health benefit of the synbiotic mixture be confirmed, even when established probiotic(s) and prebiotic(s) (that is, ones that meet criteria stipulated in respective definitions and are used at efficacious doses) are used to formulate components of the synbiotic. This requirement would account for any potential antagonistic effect of the combination that might diminish the health benefits of each component independently. Although unlikely, such antagonism is theoretically possible, as shown in in vitro studies whereby some carbohydrate substrates increased the production of antimicrobial compounds by probiotics54. Depending on which microorganism is able to utilize the substrate, which antimicrobial factors are produced, and which taxa are neutralized or killed by them, such a scenario could lead to positive or negative outcomes. Therefore, in the absence of evidence that the combination product provides a health benefit, a product should simply be labelled as “contains probiotics and prebiotics”. Sanders et al.55 provide a perspective on determining whether evidence from studies using one formulation (for example, a prebiotic or a probiotic alone) can be extrapolated to different formulations (for example, when combining a prebiotic and a probiotic).

Guiding principles for synbiotic research

Design

A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial is recommended for synbiotic research. The study should be registered with accepted protocol and results systems such as ClinicalTrials.gov. Study quality factors include, but are not limited to, appropriate blinding, randomization, the allocation concealment mechanism, reporting of inclusion and/or exclusion criteria and adverse events (AEs), completion of intention-to-treat analyses, and adequate statistical power. Crossover designs might be preferred to account for the individualized nature of the gut microbiota. The wash-out period length should be based on the primary outcome with consideration for secondary outcomes; a 2-week wash-out between conditions is generally adequate for gut microbiota outcomes, although longer times might be necessary for some populations (for example, the elderly or for those with constipation or functional bowel disorders). Parallel-arm designs might be required for long-term outcomes (such as weight loss or glycaemia). The number of study groups required depends on whether the researchers intend to demonstrate synergism (Table 2). Health outcomes and selective utilization of the substrate by host microbiota must be demonstrated in the same study. When experimental trials are not feasible or ethical, observational trials, including prospective longitudinal studies, are useful; these studies must accurately capture synbiotic exposure and control for relevant confounders (such as diet or antibiotics).

Table 2 Evidence required for synbiotics using doses delivered in product
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Population or participants

When choosing the study population, many parameters need to be defined, including the target host (including non-human species), target life stage (for example, pregnant women, infants, children, adults or elderly) and health status (for example, healthy, at-risk, or with a diagnosed disease or condition). Furthermore, microbiome-related factors, such as recent probiotic, prebiotic, synbiotic or antibiotic use, microbiota-disrupting medications and diet can be considered as (in)eligibility criteria, depending on primary health and microbiota outcomes. A 2-week wash-in period is generally adequate for probiotics; however, certain populations might require longer wash-in periods (such as 4 weeks for those with slow transit time)56. The time since last antibiotic exposure will vary depending on a range of factors, including type of antibiotic, dose, duration and whether antibiotic use has occurred on multiple occasions in fairly short succession57,58. A general recommendation is difficult to make, although a common exclusion is individuals who have taken antibiotics 3 months prior to a study. However, at a minimum, 4 weeks since cessation of antibiotics is recommended. Non-antibiotic prescription medications should also be considered if they can influence bowel function and the microbiome59.

The population subgroups of interest should be specified. Clinical factors (such as sex or BMI), baseline microbiome features (such as presence of specific microbial taxa) and other microbiome-relevant factors (such as dietary fibre intake, maternal secretor status for studies on human milk oligosaccharides or birth mode) might be relevant to analyse. For studies on the elderly, consider age-associated differences in transit time, gastric acidity and diet diversity. For mother–infant dyads, consider possible vertical transmission of microorganisms from mother to infant in breast milk, microorganisms and substrates naturally present in breast milk, and the unique characteristics of immature infant microbiome.

Intervention

The intervention should be fully described to enable replication of the study. This entails an adequate description of substrate and live microorganism dosages, specification of the microbial strain, the structure and purity of the substrate, and the timing and route of administration of the intervention. Subject compliance with an oral intervention can include measurement of the administered microorganisms in stool.

The duration of the intervention will be determined based on outcome; microbiota changes can be rapid but health outcomes will vary from days to weeks (such as constipation, stool frequency) to months (such as reduced fat mass, glycaemia). The background diet must be considered and, if possible, monitored as diet could provide a source of prebiotic substrates that are intrinsic and intact within certain foods (such as onions, wheat) as well as live microorganisms (such as fermented foods). Diet monitoring should include the use of validated methods such as the National Cancer Institute Dietary History Questionnaire (DHQ), Automated Self-Administered 24-hour dietary assessment tool (ASA24) and nutrient analysis software (such as Nutrition Data System for Research).

Placebo or control

Design of a placebo or control is driven by the comparisons of interest. Often, a fully inert control is preferred. For formulations within pills or sachets, a low dose of highly digestible ingredients (such as maltodextrin or corn starch) or slowly fermentable fibre (such as microcrystalline cellulose) are acceptable placebos, which enables double blinding. For interventions composed of a food or beverage, the control group must be carefully considered, including differences in flavour, texture and nutrient content. These factors will also determine whether the study can be considered as a single-blinded or double-blinded design.

Outcome

A synbiotic requires both a health outcome and a microbiota outcome in the same study. Primary and secondary health outcome(s) must be clearly specified. The microbiota outcome should be hypothesis-driven and provide insight into the microbiota-mediated mechanisms underlying the health outcome. Outcomes may include the abundance and viability of the administered live microorganism, changes in overall microbiota and/or microbiome composition, abundance of specific taxa and/or strains, microbial-derived metabolites, or others. Metabolomic analysis could also be performed using liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry, nuclear magnetic resonance or other suitable methods.

Statistics

A statistician’s involvement in the design phase of a study will provide confidence that the sample size is sufficient for the defined outcomes using intention-to-treat analysis. Mediation analyses might be useful to assess whether microbiota effects are contributing to the health benefit. Ancillary analyses, which could include population subgroups, responders versus non-responders or exploratory microbiota analyses should be pre-specified.

Finally, as with all trials, funding sources should be transparently reported, AEs must be carefully recorded and reported, and study design, execution and reporting should comply with CONSORT guidelines48 to minimize study bias.

Designing a synbiotic trial

There are multiple ways to design a synbiotic trial intended to examine health effects in the target host. Here, we provide some recommendations based on the criteria established herein to demonstrate complementary or synergistic synbiotics. Pre-specified subgroup analyses should be considered based on the relevant clinical factors (such as sex and age), baseline gut microbiota factors, dietary factors (such as typical dietary fibre intake) or other relevant factors (such as responder analysis). The number of experimental groups or ‘study arms’ required to prove efficacy and support mechanistic understanding will depend on the existing level of evidence for the component live microorganism(s) and selectively utilized substrate(s) as well as the researchers’ intent to determine whether components of the test mixture are complementary or acting as synergistic synbiotics (Table 2).

When selecting the study design and determining the duration of the intervention and (if applicable) of the wash-out period, general recommendations are difficult to make. Factors that will impact these decisions include the live microorganism dose and its ability to persist in situ as well as the characteristics of study subjects; for example, in elderly individuals or persons with slow intestinal transit time, a longer wash-out period could be required compared with a study conducted in younger individuals56. Parallel arm designs would be appropriate for studies that aim to demonstrate improvements in metabolic health measures, such as of adiposity or glycaemic control, as these outcomes typically require longer-term interventions (that is, 12 weeks or more). Gut microbiota changes can be rapid (within days)60. Currently, changes in the gut microbiota and microbial metabolites, such as short-chain fatty acids, are not accepted by regulatory bodies as measures of a health outcome61.

Responders and non-responders among study participants in intervention studies with probiotics and prebiotics are commonly observed, which could justify including the probability of a positive response as a study end point. In the context of synbiotics, non-responders include individuals for whom little or no change in gut microbiota composition and/or clinical end point occurs compared with placebo. Various reasons for the non-responder phenotype include limited available niches for desired gut microorganisms (either native or introduced as probiotics)47, limited substrates to support microbial growth62, host immune system expressing intolerance for specific microorganisms63 or a lack of specific microorganisms in the host microbiota3. Although many scenarios of formulations for synbiotics can be conceived, we provide both actual and hypothetical examples to illustrate the concept (Box 2).

Trials for synergistic synbiotics

Studies on a synergistic synbiotic that compare the synbiotic to the control can provide supportive evidence but do not constitute the primary evidence needed to confirm a synergistic synbiotic. Instead, a study including the combination, the substrate alone, the live microorganisms alone and a control should be conducted. Using an appropriate statistical model, the aim is to demonstrate that the combined effect is better than the estimated effects of each component separately. Evidence of selective utilization of the substrate by the co-administered live microorganism must be obtained from the same trial demonstrating the health benefit.

Trials for complementary synbiotics

A two-arm parallel or crossover study would be sufficient to test a complementary synbiotic. The aim is to demonstrate that the combination is better than the placebo group with a relevant health end point. As a demonstrated prebiotic is used to formulate a complementary synbiotic, we do not require that selective utilization by the indigenous microbiota be reconfirmed in this clinical trial.

Measurement of selective utilization

Measurement of selective utilization by the microbiota might involve different approaches, including both in vitro model systems and in vivo studies in the target host. For example, selective utilization of a substrate could be demonstrated experimentally using well-established in vitro gut models64 that include measurement of substrates and products during a prescribed time course. Ultimately, however, studies must be done in the target host to show that specific microorganisms or taxa had been enriched or their activity enhanced by a particular substrate. For synergistic synbiotics, methods that quantify the live microorganism should be used to show that the target strain has indeed been enriched21 and other suitable methods can be used to show that its function has been enhanced. Microbiota features that are useful to measure can include characterization of the overall gut microbial community and microbiota diversity65, abundance and/or activity of specific taxa66, microorganism–microorganism or microorganism–host proximity67, the presence and/or abundance of specific microbial genes or gene clusters of interest, and/or metabolite concentrations68.

Safety measures for synbiotics

Prebiotics and probiotics tested to date have a strong safety record69,70,71,72,73,74, and synbiotics formulated with them might also be presumed safe for the same intended uses. However, novel formulations must be suitably assessed for safety. Unfortunately, historically, many probiotic and prebiotic intervention trials have not adequately reported the types and frequency of AEs or serious AEs, perhaps owing to expectations that, as food ingredients, these products were inherently safe or that AEs could be due to failure to comply with norms for reporting harms in RCTs. Nonetheless, clear guidance for reporting AEs and serious AEs is provided by CONSORT75 and these standards should be followed. Describing such events as “unrelated to the study product”, without justification for this statement, is unacceptable.

A systematic review of 384 interventions involving prebiotics, probiotics and synbiotics found that no safety-related data were reported in 37% of the RCTs and 89 studies only used generic statements to describe AEs76. Up to 98% of studies did not provide a definition of AEs or serious AEs, the number of participant withdrawals due to AEs, or the number of AEs and serious AEs per study group. Taken together, these results are evidence that some studies inadequately collect or report data on AEs. van den Nieuwboer and colleagues72,77,78,79 reviewed the AEs reported in studies with probiotic and synbiotic interventions and classified them according to the Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events system80; they found that the incidence of AEs in each category was either no different from or often lower in the control groups than in the treatment group.

Thorough safety assessment of a synergistic synbiotic requires consideration that the added microorganism will express enhanced functionality in the presence of a targeted substrate such as improved growth or altered metabolic or physiological activity in vivo. This aspect suggests that safety assessments conducted on the live microorganism in isolation might not be sufficient to enable a conclusion about its safety when paired with a substrate that alters physiology or might in effect alter the dose delivered in vivo. Implications of such an interaction should be considered when assessing the safety of synergistic synbiotics.

Implications of this consensus

The panel recognizes the importance of developing a scientifically valid definition of the term synbiotic. The intention is to provide clarity for a diverse range of stakeholders, including consumers, regulators, health-care providers, researchers, industry and scientific organizations communicating about synbiotics. Table 3 is designed to clearly lay out the criteria for synbiotics in comparison to probiotics and prebiotics. Within the commercial supply chain, many different industry sectors, including ingredient suppliers, end-product manufacturers and retailers are very interested in how synbiotics are defined. As synbiotic products are being used more frequently in clinical trials, it is incumbent upon scientists to clarify the appropriate use of this term as has been done for the terms ‘probiotic’12 and ‘prebiotic’13.

Table 3 Minimum criteria to appropriately use the terms ‘probiotic’, ‘prebiotic’ and ‘synbiotic’
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Although the term ‘synbiotic’ might not be as well recognized as probiotics and prebiotics, it is nonetheless found on product labels, in popular press articles and in the scientific literature. The first mention of a synbiotic was in 1995 yet, according to PubMed searches, in 2019, 269 papers were published using the term. Consumer exposure is expected to increase. Thus, it is hoped that the definition herein is clear and widely accepted and will counter misuse of the term, including by scientists8. Table 3 provides the minimum criteria for the correct use of terms associated with synbiotics.

The importance of context

The panel urges stakeholders to carefully consider context for communications to consumers on the health benefits of synbiotics. The overall impression of any communication should lead consumers to understand the claim in a manner that is consistent with the evidence; any misleading use of the term constitutes misuse. Communication of the tested health benefit must accurately reflect what was reported in the clinical trial; results should not be extrapolated to health conditions, populations or synbiotics that have not been studied.

Regulators

Regulatory authorities are primarily focused on two issues: product safety and product labelling. These encompass both truthfulness and compliance with regulatory statutes. Even if the term synbiotic is not included in governmental guidelines or regulations, the use of our proposed scientific definition of the term will aid regulatory oversight of products labelled as ‘synbiotic’.

Regulatory statutes will differ with regard to geographical regions, regulatory categories, types of allowable claims and premarket approval. Furthermore, different standards exist for manufacturing, efficacy and safety depending on geographical region and product category. The term synbiotic does not stipulate a regulatory category, so (simply stated), regulatory requirements for a synbiotic would need to meet those that apply to the category (for example, drug, food or supplement) of the marketed product.

Regulatory complications can result in regions that impose probiotic-specific regulations. For example, Canada81,82, Italy83, Argentina84, Chile85, Colombia86 and Brazil87 have requirements specific to probiotic foods or supplements. Furthermore, there is a proposal88 under consideration by Codex Alimentarius that could result in probiotic-specific global standards89. The Codex Alimentarius is a collection of standards, guidelines and codes of practice adopted under the auspices of the Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations and World Health Organization to protect consumer health and promote fair practices in food trade. Codex Alimentarius standards could affect probiotic products traded globally. Could product manufacturers potentially avoid these regulations by labelling a product as a synbiotic? Without the use of the term probiotic or prebiotic, relevant specific regulations would not be triggered. Perhaps this approach would not provide a marketing advantage, as consumer recognition and demand for synbiotic products is currently not as advanced as for probiotics and prebiotics. However, regions supporting probiotic-specific (or prebiotic-specific) regulations will need to address how the concept of synbiotics fits into those regulations. Our stipulation is that manufacturers of complementary synbiotics should meet current probiotic or prebiotic regulations.

One regulatory consequence of probiotic and prebiotic definitions is that the European Union has determined that labelling a food product as such amounts to an implied health claim90. As health claims in the European Union must be approved, the use of ‘probiotic’ or ‘prebiotic’ on a food label is subject to a health claim approval process. Despite controversy surrounding this situation, we can expect that the European Union might adopt a similar position for the use of the term ‘synbiotic’ because it also requires evidence of a health benefit.

Scientists

Synbiotics present challenges for researchers, including deciphering mechanisms underlying the health benefit and proving that the microbiota are modulated via complementary or synergistic means. Unless appropriate experimental methods of verification are used, the product under assessment should not be referred to as ‘synbiotic’.

As for probiotics, prebiotics and synbiotics, it might be possible a priori to stratify study participants to enhance either the magnitude of the response or the number of responders to a given synbiotic treatment. The baseline composition of gut microbiota of study participants could be one useful stratification factor91,92. This stratification might improve mechanistic understanding of observed effects and could be useful for characterizing responders and non-responders. Ultimately, this approach could enable better translation of clinical trial outcomes to those who are likely to benefit.

Scientists involved in the publication process (authors, editors, reviewers) should use the term synbiotic correctly and reject erroneous or unsupported use of the term. Even if a given treatment fails to demonstrate an effect (that is, acceptance of the null hypothesis) in a well-conducted study, such results still warrant publication93.

Industry

The business community plays a vital part in translating the outcomes of fundamental and clinical research into commercial products that can benefit consumers. To the extent that industry funds research, it is essential that studies adhere to well-established guidelines to manage conflicts of interest and minimize bias94,95. Further, industry bears the duty of responsible manufacture, quality control and marketing of synbiotic products. It is incumbent on industry to follow good manufacturing practices, engage in truthful labelling and product promotion as well as adhere to appropriate use of the term ‘synbiotics’.

Media

The media (TV, radio, newspapers, magazines, websites and social media) have an increasingly central role in communicating science. These efforts require commitment and skill to craft clear, simple messages that are true to the science. Too often, scientists or their institutions do not effectively translate complex research findings so that they can be understood by the lay public. At times, overextended or inflated representations of research findings can be communicated through official academic or journal press releases. Communicators are therefore encouraged to distinguish between association studies and those presenting causal evidence, to describe single studies in the context of the totality of evidence, to avoid overgeneralizing results (for example, from model organisms such as mice) and to note study limitations. This requirement is true for null studies as well as those suggesting benefits from the interventions being tested. In this context, the media should adopt the scientific definition of synbiotics herein.

Conclusions

This Consensus Statement provides a new definition for a ‘synbiotic’ based on review by a panel of experts. To summarize (Box 1), a synbiotic is a mixture comprising live microorganisms and substrate(s) selectively utilized by host microorganisms that confers a health benefit on the host. Two categories of synbiotics are recognized. A complementary synbiotic is composed of a probiotic and a prebiotic that together confer one or more health benefits but do not require co-dependent function; the components must be used at doses that have been shown to be effective for the components alone. A synergistic synbiotic contains a substrate that is selectively utilized by the co-administered live microorganism(s). Synbiotic products are not confined to human applications but could also include companion animals and livestock. They might also be directed to specific subpopulations (age, sex, health status) of the target species. The definition can also be applied to intestinal or extra-intestinal microbial ecosystems. The hope is that, going forward, this updated definition will be utilized and that it will aid in advancing synbiotic research, improve stakeholder understanding and enable better communication to consumers.