Checklist of Cumulative Required Evidence for a Prebiotic

After the well-known scientific consensus definition of a prebiotic was published in 2017 (“a substrate that is selectively utilized by host microorganisms conferring a health benefit”), further clarity was needed in the scientific field to determine which substances meet the criteria. A 2024 paper from ISAPP provided that clarity and laid out the individual criteria that are explicitly and implicitly derived from the definition, as summarized in this checklist. The aim of the checklist is to provide researchers clearly stated criteria that may assist with the scientific rationale for calling a substance ‘prebiotic’.