Thesis (MSc Nutrition Science)--Stellenbosch University, 2004. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Probiotics (live microbes) and prebiotics (non-digestible food-ingredients) are rapidly gaining interest worldwide as supplements and functional food ingredients but little South African information in this regard is available. Furthermore, the availability of South African produced probiotic concentrates for commercial use is also very limited. The aims of this study therefore were to complete a market and product assessment of probiotic and prebiotic containing products in South Africa and to evaluate probiotic strains for commercial use in South Africa. For the purposes of market and product assessment probiotic and/or prebiotic containing products manufactured in South Africa were identified. The scientific and legal correctness of health and content claims made on the labels of the products were assessed. An exploratory survey was conducted to determine the awareness of South African consumers of probiotics and prebiotics. For the evaluation of probiotic strains for potential commercial use in South Africa, a panel of twelve lactic acid bacteria (LAB) were screened for inhibitory activity against two porcine pathogens and indicator strains from the LMG-panel isolated from the faeces of patients diagnosed with AIDS. The five LAB with the best inhibitory activity were tested for growth in soymilk-base and for the effect of lyophilization on the inhibitory activity thereof. The effect of prebiotics on the growth and inhibitory activity of the strains was tested in vitro. A range of products containing probiotics and prebiotics available on the South African market was identified. Irregulatories concerning health claims on the labels were found, but content claims seemed to be less of a problem. The results also indicate that the proposed South African regulations for the labelling of probiotic and prebiotic containing products need to be revised to include the probiotic and prebiotic related health claims for which sufficient scientific evidence is available. The probiotic strains with potential for commercial use in South Africa that were identified, include Lactobacillus plantarum 423, Lactobacillus casei LHS, Lactobacillus salivarius 241, Lactobacillus curvatus DF38 and Pediococcus pentosaceus 34. These strains were grown successfully in soymilkbase and lyophilization did not have a negative effective on the inhibitory activity thereof. The growth and inhibitory activity of the five LAB were promoted when combined with 1% (w/v) Raftilose® Synergyl . It is concluded that although a variety of probiotic and prebiotic containing products are available on the South African market, the scientific and legislative correctness of especially health related claims is not satisfactory and that South African consumer awareness of these products is low. It is also concluded that a combination of at least three of the five identified LAB and 1% Raftilose® Synergy can be used by South African manufacturers for the production of probiotic and prebiotic containing supplements. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die belangstelling in probiotika (lewendige mikrobe) en prebiotika (onverteerbare voedselbestanddele) as supplemente en funksionele voedselbestanddele is besig om wêreldwyd toe te neem, alhoewel weinig Suid-Arikaanse inligting in hierdie verband beskikbaar is. Die beskikbaarheid van Suid-Afrikaans geproduseerde probiotika konsentrate vir kommersïele gebruik is ook baie beperk. Die doelwitte van hierdie studie was dus om 'n mark- en produkevaluering van probiotika- en prebiotika-bevattende produkte in Suid-Afrika uit te voer en om probiotiese stamme te evalueer vir uiteindelike kommersiële gebruik in Suid-Afrika. Vir die doel van die mark- en produkevaluering is probiotika- en prebiotika-bevattende produkte wat in Suid-Afrika vervaardig word geïdentifiseer. Die wetenskaplike en wetlike korrektheid van die gesondheids- en inhoudsaansprake op die etikette van die produkte is evalueer. 'n Markopname is uitgevoer om die bewustheid van Suid-Afrikaanse verbruikers van probiotika en prebiotika vas te stel. Vir die evaluering van probiotiese stamme vir potensïele kommersiële gebruik in Suid-Afrika is 'n paneel van twaalf melksuurbakteriëe getoets vir inhibitoriese aktiwiteit teen twee patogene geïsoleer uit varke asook teen indikator stamme van die LMG-paneel. Die vyf melksuurbakteriëe met die beste inhibitoriese aktiwiteit is getoets vir groei in sojamelk-basis en ook vir die effek van vriesdroging op die groei en inhibitoriese aktiwiteit van die stamme daarvan. Die effek van prebiotika op die groei en inhibitoriese aktiwiteit van die stamme is in vitro getoets. 'n Reeks van probiotika- en prebiotika-bevattende produkte wat beskikbaar is op die Suid-Afrikaanse mark, is geidentifiseer. Ongeruimdhede met die gesondheidsaansprake op die etikette is gevind, maar inhoudsaansprake was minder problematies. Die resultate dui ook daarop dat die voorgestelde Suid- Afrikaanse regulasies vir die etikettering van probiotika- en prebiotika-bevattende produkte hersien moet word om al die probiotika- en prebiotika-verwante gesondheidsaansprake waarvoor voldoende wetenskaplike bewyse beskikbaar is in te sluit. Die probiotiese stamme met potensiaal vir kommersiële gebruik in Suid-Afrika sluit die volgende in: Lactobacillus plantarum 423, Lactobacillus casei LHS, Lactobacillus salivarius 241, Lactobacillus curvatus DF 38 en Pediococcus pentosaceus 34. Hierdie stamme is suksesvol gekweek in sojamelk-basis en vriesdroging het nie' n negatiewe effek op die groei en inhibitoriese aktiwiteit daarvan gehad me. Die kombinasie van die vyf melksuurbakteriëe met 1% Raftilose® Synergy het die groei en inhibitoriese aktiwiteit daarvan bevorder. Die gevolgtrekking wat gemaak word is dat alhoewel 'n varrasie van probiotika- en prebiotikabevattende produkte beskikbaar is op die Suid-Afrikaanse mark, die wetenskaplike en wetlike korrektheid van spesifiek die gesondheids-verwante aansprake op die etikette daarvan nie bevredigend is nie en dat die bewustheid van die Suid-Afrikaanse verbruikers van hierdie produkte laag is. Die gevolgtrekking kan ook gemaak word dat 'n kombinasie van ten minste drie van die vyf geïdentifiseerde melksuurbakteriëe en 1% Raftilose® Synergy deur Suid-Afrikaanse vervaardigers gebruik kan word vir die vervaardiging van produkte wat probiotika en prebiotika bevat.