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 via Google Forms. 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 reestablish traditional probiotic and prebiotic food consumption to reduce non-communicable disease risk.