Task Force Information
Objectives
Consumers, the scientific community, regulators and the food and dietary supplement industry show increasing interest in probiotics and their health benefits. The attention of the task force is thus focused on the understanding of the role of probiotics in health and disease, their mechanisms of action while increasing awareness of their direct/indirect benefits on health.
Task Force Members
Dr Arthur Ouwehand – Chair | International Flavors & Fragrances (IFF) | R&D Group Manager | FI |
Dr Luc Sterkman – Vice-Chair | Caelus Health | CEO | NL |
Prof. Marc Heyndrickx* – Co-Chair | Institute for Agricultural and Fisheries Research (ILVO) | Scientific Director | BE |
Dr Gabriele Gross | Mead Johnson Nutrition / Reckitt | Head of Emerging Sciences | NL |
Dr Benjamin Anderschou Holbech Jensen* | University of Copenhagen | Assist. Professor, Head of Nutritional Immunology | DK |
Dr Jonathan Lane | H&H Group | Senior Manager, Global Research | IE |
Dr Renaud Mestdagh | Cargill | Senior Scientist Infant Nutrition | BE |
Dr Delphine Saulnier | Novozymes | Science Manager | DE |
Dr Nikoletta Vidra | Yakult Europe | BE | |
Dr Adrienne Weiss | Yili Innovation Center Europe | Innovation Project Leader | NL |
Ms Naomi Venlet | ILSI Europe | Scientific Project Manager | BE |
* Scientific Advisors
Contact Information
For more detailed information, please contact Naomi Venlet at nvenlet@ilsieurope.be
Activity Overview
Mapping of probiotics and their activities in the small intestine - Ongoing -
Objectives
This activity will lead to a better understanding of the mode of action of probiotics in the small intestine, and to identify the most important gaps that still need to be filled. Ultimately, the knowledge gained from this project should help improve clinical research on probiotic efficacy.
Probiotics and pregnancy - Upcoming -
Objectives
This activity aims to review and publish evidence on possible influences of the type of carbohydrates co-ingested with proteins, on post-prandial and longer-term protein utilization. Results may be applied in selecting carbohydrates to help compensate for poorer quality or intakes/utilisation of proteins (e.g. plant-based diets, ageing populations), and also highlighting research gaps.
Expected results
Peer reviewed publication
Postbiotics - Upcoming -
Objectives
Seek consumer, Health care practitioners and regulatory authorities input to frame a subsequent review paper on postbiotics, but with a focus on consumer concerns, knowledge gaps and misconceptions.
Expected results
Peer reviewed publication
Expert Groups
Mapping of probiotics and their activities in the small intestine
Background and Objectives
The knowledge of probiotics activity in humans is predominantly based on a reflection of what can be gathered in stool samples. However, many diseases have their origin in or are associated with the small intestine, such as certain diarrhoeas, auto-immune and celiac disease and metabolic syndrome. The aim of this activity is to look at the different barriers functions, microbial composition and physiology of the small intestine (duodenum, jejunum, ileum), models and technologies currently available to assess survival and understand how probiotics interact and act on this part of the gastro-intestinal (GI) tract.
Output
This activity will lead to a better understanding of the mode of action of probiotics in the small intestine, and to identify the most important gaps that still need to be filled. Ultimately, the knowledge gained from this project should help improve clinical research on probiotic efficacy.
Expert Group Members
Dr Benjamin Anderschou Holbech Jensen – Chair | University of Copenhagen | Leader Assoc. Prof. Nutritional Immunology | DK |
Dr Arthur Ouwehand – Vice-Chair | International Flavors & Fragrances (IFF) | R&D Group Manager | FI |
Prof. Marc Heyndrickx | Institute for Agriculture and Fisheries Research (ILVO) | Scientific Director | BE |
Drs Daisy Jonkers | Maastricht University | Associate Professor | NL |
Prof. Alan Mackie | University of Leeds | Head of the School of Food Science & Nutrition | UK |
Dr Sam Millet | Institute for Agriculture and Fisheries Research (ILVO) | Research Scientist | BE |
Dr Malwina Naghibi | ADM | Senior Medical Scientific Liaison | UK |
Dr Simone Isling Pærregaard | University of Copenhagen | Postdoc | DK |
Dr Bruno Pot | Yakult Europe | Science Director | NL |
Dr Delphine Saulnier | Novozymes | Science Manager | DE |
Prof. Dr Christian Sina | Institute of Nutritional Medicine University of Lübeck | Director | DE |
Dr Luc Sterkman | Caelus Health | Chief Executive Officer | NL |
Dr Pieter van den Abbeele | Cryptobiotix | CSO & Co-founder at Cryptobiotix | BE |
Dr Erwin Zoetendal | Wageningen University | Associate Professor | NL |
Ms Naomi Venlet | ILSI Europe | Scientific Project Manager | BE |
Publications
Oldest to Newest
Can Probiotics Modulate Human Disease by Impacting Intestinal Barrier Function?
2017
Understanding Mode of Action can Drive the Translational Pipeline Towards more Reliable Health Benefits for Probiotics
2018
Current Opinion in Biotechnology (2018). Commissioned by the Probiotics Task Force.
The microbiota–gut–brain axis: pathways to better brain health. Perspectives on what we know, what we need to investigate and how to put knowledge into practice
Cellular and Molecular Life Sciences, 2022
(2022) 79:80. Commissioned by the Early Nutrition and Long-Term Health, Nutrition and Brain Health, Nutrition, Immunity and Inflammation, Prebiotics and Probiotics Task Forces.
Dietary Probiotics, Prebiotics and the Gut Microbiota in Human Health
2022
Commissioned by the Prebiotics and Probiotics Task Forces.
Perspective: Leveraging the Gut Microbiota to Predict Personalized Responses to Dietary, Prebiotic, and Probiotic Interventions
Advances in Nutrition, 2022
Commissioned by the Prebiotics and Probiotics Task Forces.
- To download the English version, click here.
- To download the Portuguese version, click here.
- To download the French version, click here.
- To download the Spanish version, click here.
- To download the Slovak version, click here.
- To download the Japanese version, click here.
- To download the Chinese version, click here.
Click on the image below to download the one-pager summary.

Commissioned by the Prebiotics and Probiotics Task Forces.
[post_title] => Dietary Probiotics, Prebiotics and the Gut Microbiota in Human Health [post_excerpt] => [post_status] => publish [comment_status] => closed [ping_status] => closed [post_password] => [post_name] => dietary-probiotics-prebiotics-and-the-gut-microbiota-in-human-health [to_ping] => [pinged] => [post_modified] => 2023-02-06 13:36:16 [post_modified_gmt] => 2023-02-06 13:36:16 [post_content_filtered] => [post_parent] => 0 [guid] => https://ilsi.eu/?post_type=publication&p=10626 [menu_order] => 0 [post_type] => publication [post_mime_type] => [comment_count] => 0 [filter] => raw ) [4] => WP_Post Object ( [ID] => 12002 [post_author] => 24 [post_date] => 2022-10-10 06:10:44 [post_date_gmt] => 2022-10-10 06:10:44 [post_content] =>Humans often show variable responses to dietary, prebiotic, and probiotic interventions. Emerging evidence indicates that the gut microbiota is a key determinant for this population heterogeneity. Here, we provide an overview of some of the major computational and experimental tools being applied to critical questions of microbiota-mediated personalized nutrition and health. First, we discuss the latest advances in in silico modeling of the microbiota-nutrition-health axis, including the application of statistical, mechanistic, and hybrid artificial intelligence models. Second, we address high-throughput in vitro techniques for assessing inter-individual heterogeneity, from ex vivo batch culturing of stool and continuous culturing in anaerobic bioreactors, to more sophisticated organ-on-a-chip models that integrate both host and microbial compartments. Third, we explore in vivo approaches for better understanding personalized, microbiota-mediated responses to diet, prebiotics, and probiotics, from non-human animal models and human observational studies, to human feeding trials and crossover interventions. We highlight examples of existing, consumer-facing precision nutrition platforms that are currently leveraging the gut microbiota. Furthermore, we discuss how the integration of a broader set of the tools and techniques described in this piece can generate the data necessary to support a greater diversity of precision nutrition strategies. Finally, we present a vision of a precision nutrition and healthcare future, which leverages the gut microbiota to design effective, individual-specific interventions.
Download the full article here
or click on the image below to download the one-pager summary.

Commissioned by the Prebiotics and Probiotics Task Forces.
[post_title] => Perspective: Leveraging the Gut Microbiota to Predict Personalized Responses to Dietary, Prebiotic, and Probiotic Interventions [post_excerpt] => [post_status] => publish [comment_status] => closed [ping_status] => closed [post_password] => [post_name] => perspective-leveraging-the-gut-microbiota-to-predict-personalized-responses-to-dietary-prebiotic-and-probiotic-interventions [to_ping] => [pinged] => [post_modified] => 2023-02-03 13:12:13 [post_modified_gmt] => 2023-02-03 13:12:13 [post_content_filtered] => [post_parent] => 0 [guid] => https://ilsi.eu/?post_type=publication&p=12002 [menu_order] => 0 [post_type] => publication [post_mime_type] => [comment_count] => 0 [filter] => raw ) ) [post_count] => 5 [current_post] => -1 [in_the_loop] => [post] => WP_Post Object ( [ID] => 3583 [post_author] => 24 [post_date] => 2017-01-26 08:05:47 [post_date_gmt] => 2017-01-26 08:05:47 [post_content] => [post_title] => Can Probiotics Modulate Human Disease by Impacting Intestinal Barrier Function? [post_excerpt] => [post_status] => publish [comment_status] => closed [ping_status] => closed [post_password] => [post_name] => can-probiotics-modulate-human-disease-by-impacting-intestinal-barrier-function [to_ping] => [pinged] => [post_modified] => 2022-10-10 06:16:22 [post_modified_gmt] => 2022-10-10 06:16:22 [post_content_filtered] => [post_parent] => 0 [guid] => http://ilsi.eu/?post_type=publication&p=3583 [menu_order] => 0 [post_type] => publication [post_mime_type] => [comment_count] => 0 [filter] => raw ) [comment_count] => 0 [current_comment] => -1 [found_posts] => 10 [max_num_pages] => 2 [max_num_comment_pages] => 0 [is_single] => [is_preview] => [is_page] => [is_archive] => 1 [is_date] => [is_year] => [is_month] => [is_day] => [is_time] => [is_author] => [is_category] => [is_tag] => [is_tax] => 1 [is_search] => [is_feed] => [is_comment_feed] => [is_trackback] => [is_home] => [is_privacy_policy] => [is_404] => [is_embed] => [is_paged] => 1 [is_admin] => [is_attachment] => [is_singular] => [is_robots] => [is_favicon] => [is_posts_page] => [is_post_type_archive] => [query_vars_hash:WP_Query:private] => d30f8996659897fbcf051d3d9d184f35 [query_vars_changed:WP_Query:private] => [thumbnails_cached] => [allow_query_attachment_by_filename:protected] => [stopwords:WP_Query:private] => [compat_fields:WP_Query:private] => Array ( [0] => query_vars_hash [1] => query_vars_changed ) [compat_methods:WP_Query:private] => Array ( [0] => init_query_flags [1] => parse_tax_query ) )Multimedia
Introductory video
Posters
Exploring the Interactions between Probiotics and Health
Webinars
'Toolsets for Mining the gut Microbiome to Enable Precision Nutrition'
Watch the Webinar
'Understanding Prebiotic and Probiotic Mechanisms that Drive Health Benefits'
Watch the Webinar
Completed Expert Groups
Overview of completed activities since 2021
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Prediction of individual responses to prebiotics and probiotics intervention (collaboration Prebiotics Task Force)
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Joint nutrition cluster activity on ‘mechanistic insights into the gut-brain axis' in collaboration with Early Nutrition and Long-Term Health; Health Benefit Assessment of Foods; Nutrition, Immunity & Inflammation; Nutrition & Brain Health and Prebiotics Task Forces
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Updated concise monograph - Dietary Probiotics, Prebiotics and the Gut Microbiota in Human Health (collaboration with Probiotics Task Force)