Prebiotics are functional food ingredients that offer potential benefits for digestive well-being, particularly in circumstances where the gut is compromised by antibiotic use or exposure to pathogens. A growing body of evidence also points towards wider health effects, including infant health, enhanced mineral absorption and weight management. Prebiotics act by stimulating the growth and activity of selected species of bacteria in the large intestine, including bifidobacteria and lactobacillus. As much of the research on prebiotics has been performed on inulin and oligofructose, these offer the most effective route for influencing health across the lifecycle.