Knowledge and consumption of traditional probiotics and prebiotics among adults in India

Abstract

Traditional Indian cuisines are a rich repository of diverse probiotic and prebiotic food sources. However, the level of knowledge and consumption of traditional probiotics and prebiotics among free-living populations are not well-documented. The current study assessed knowledge and consumption of traditional Indian probiotic and prebiotic foods among Indian adults. This cross-sectional study was conducted Pan-India among 240 participants aged over 18 years. Information regarding sociodemographic parameters and knowledge and consumption pattern of Indian probiotics and prebiotics was collected. Knowledge was assessed using a self-designed questionnaire and consumption was assessed using a semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire and food variety scores. Results showed knowledge of probiotics (Mdn= 5.00) was better than prebiotics (Mdn= 4.00) (p<0.001). Urban residence (U = 3155.00, p=0.021) and higher education level (χ² = 7.440, p=0.024) influenced knowledge of probiotics. Less than 45% of participants consumed at least one traditional probiotic food daily whereas 76.67% of participants consumed a minimum of one Indian prebiotic food source per day (p<0.001). Body mass index of the participants was inversely associated with overall food variety scores (r_s= -0.184, p= 0.004) and prebiotic food variety scores (r_s= -0.171, p=0.008). Obese participants had lower overall food variety scores than others (χ² = 8.091, p=0.044). These findings underline the need to improve knowledge of probiotics and prebiotics among the general public and to re-establish traditional probiotic and prebiotic food consumption to reduce non-communicable disease risk.