journal article·2025-06-09Open access

Unlocking Wellness: Probiotics as Key Drivers in Functional Food Innovation and Health Promotion

Yifei Huang, Yuankun Zhou, Hengyi Xu

Applied Sciences· Volume 15· Issue 12

Abstract

Probiotics play a pivotal role in functional food development owing to their distinct health-promoting properties. This review comprehensively examines probiotics’ classifications and functional mechanisms and their roles in modulating intestinal microbiota, enhancing immunity, and intervening in metabolic diseases. The diverse applications of probiotics in dairy and meat products are examined alongside technological innovations, including microencapsulation, biofilm systems, and personalized strain screening that have been employed to enhance probiotic stability and efficacy in functional foods. We analyze safety concerns and regulatory challenges, emphasizing the need for rigorous pre-market evaluation and international regulatory harmonization. This study aims to review the existing scientific evidence on the application of probiotics in functional foods, providing a theoretical reference for the development of the next generation of high-quality functional foods.
Source: crossref · Quality: baseline

Research context

OpenAlex topics: Probiotics and Fermented Foods · Gut microbiota and health · Nutrition, Genetics, and Disease

SciVX discovery tags are terminology-based. OpenAlex topics are source-provided classifications.

Affiliations

State Key Laboratory of Food Science and Resources, Nanchang University, Nanchang 330047, China

Funding

Research Project of State Key Laboratory of Food Science and Resources, Nanchang University, China

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