A literature review spanning from 2012 to 2023 identified significant research on prebiotics across various health conditions. Seven conditions with substantial study coverage were analyzed, revealing five overarching categories: pathologies, metabolic conditions, food structure and use, immunomodulation, and gut microbiota effects. The review underscores prebiotics’ potential to positively impact human health, particularly through their influence on gut microbiota. While clinical studies suggest benefits for conditions like autism, colorectal cancer, and inflammatory bowel disease, the exact mechanisms remain unclear, necessitating further investigation and hypothesis formulation. Prebiotics appear to primarily promote a healthy gut microbiota and short-chain fatty acid production, potentially affecting clinical outcomes. The review highlights the need for standardized protocols to better understand prebiotic effects, emphasizing uniformity in compounds, doses, administration methods, trial durations, and supplementation strategies to enhance research consistency and outcomes.

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