Resumo

CABRERA CAO, Yanet  e  FADRAGAS FERNANDEZ, Alejandro. Prebiotic agents and health: a necessary reflection. Rev Cubana Med Gen Integr [online]. 2005, vol.21, n.3-4. ISSN 0864-2125.

The advances attained in physiopathology have placed the protective role of the probiotic bacteria as an important element to be taken into consideration in the prevention and therapeutical treatment of intestinal disorders and recurrent urogenital infections. In order to update the knowledge on this topic, a bibliographic review was made in which the primary characteristics of prebiotic bacteria were exposed in the first place, as well as their main effects on the anatomy and physiology of the digestive and urogenital segment in nutrition and, finally, their therapeutic effects on our organism. . It was concluded that the prebiotic bacteria are a dietetic tool that reduces the susceptibility to suffer from infections, maintaining the intestinal and urogenital flora sound and balanced, with acceptable  immunological levels. Therefore, they should be incorporated as compulsory nutritional elements in our daily diet.

Palavras-chave : Prebiotic agents; prebiotic bacteria; products fermented; healthy food.