**5. Conclusion**

Poly- and hetero-oligosaccharides produced by LAB may be potential prebiotics. Studies on the production of polysaccharides and oligosaccharides by enzymes in beneficial microorganisms may lead to the production of highly selective prebiotics, although in vitro evaluation may be difficult because of degradation and utilization of polysaccharides by various microorganisms in the gastrointestinal tract. Administration of synbiotic food containing a combination of a probiotic bacterial strain and the prebiotic sugar produced by that strain could be effective in improving human health.
