Summary
This paper, published in Nature Reviews Gastroenterology & Hepatology, addresses longstanding inconsistency in the use of microbiome-related terminology across the biomedical and nutritional sciences. Sanders and colleagues convened expert opinion to propose standardised definitions for terms such as microbiome, probiotics, prebiotics and postbiotics, aiming to improve precision in research, clinical practice and regulatory communication. The work is likely to function as a reference document for researchers and policymakers navigating an increasingly crowded and commercially influenced field.
UK applicability
The consensus definitions proposed are intended for international application and are directly relevant to UK researchers, clinicians and food regulators, including those working within MHRA, FSA or NICE frameworks where precise terminology is required for product claims and clinical guidance.
Key measures
Definitional frameworks and terminological criteria for microbiome-related concepts; expert consensus positions
Outcomes reported
The paper sought to establish agreed definitions for key microbiome-related terms including microbiome, microbiota, probiotics, prebiotics, synbiotics and postbiotics, drawing on expert consensus to reduce ambiguity in the scientific literature.
Topic tags
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