Prebiotics and the Health Benefits of Fiber:
Future Research and Goals

The Life Sciences Research Organization, Inc. (LSRO) organized a workshop, Prebiotics and the Health Benefits of Fiber:  Future Research and Goals, that took place on February 10, 2011 on the FASEB Campus (9650 Rockville Pike, Bethesda, MD 20814). The goals of the Workshop were:
	To understand the current state of the science and international regulatory environment for prebiotic fibers
	Identify research gaps
	Create a future research strategy
The workshop sponsor was the Kellogg Company.  Planning was under the direction of a scientific advisory committee.  Members include:
	Glenn Gibson,  Ph.D.,  University of Reading School of Food Biosciences,  UK
	Yehuda Ringel,  M.D.,  University of North Carolina School of Medicine
	Joanne Slavin,  Ph.D.,  R.D.,  University of Minnesota
Speakers and their topics included:    (Click a title link to download the slide presentation as a PDF file)
	Michael Falk,  Ph.D.,  Life Sciences Research Organization,  Bethesda, MD:  Workshop Introduction
	Glenn Gibson,  Ph.D.,  Professor and Head of FMSU Research Group,  University of Reading School of Food Biosciences,  UK:  An Overview of Prebiotics
	Cyril Kendall,  Ph.D.,  Research Scientist,  Department of Nutrition,  University of Toronto:  Epidemiology and Measures of Prebiotic Success
	Joanne Slavin,  Ph.D.,  R.D.,  Professor of Food Sciences and Nutrition,  University of Minnesota:  Physiology of the Gut and Mechanisms of Prebiotic Effect
	Yehuda Ringel,  M.D.,  Associate Professor of Medicine,  Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology,  University of North Carolina School of Medicine:  Evidence and Recommendations for the Use of Prebiotics in Clinical Settings
	Wim Caers,  Manager of Regulatory Affairs & Nutrition Communication,  BENEO:  Current International Regulatory Positions on Prebiotics
The invited audience included nutritionists,  microbiologists,  physicians,  health outcome researchers,  epidemiologists,  public health policy makers from various US and international agencies,  industry,  and other interested parties.  A summary of the Workshop will be submitted for publication.