Antibiotics,
prebiotics and probiotics are widely used as growth promoters in agriculture. In the 1940s, use of Streptomyces aureofaciens probiotics resulted in
weight gain in animals, which led to the discovery of
chlortetracycline.
Tetracyclines,
macrolides,
avoparcin and
penicillins have been commonly used in livestock agriculture to promote growth through increased food intake,
weight gain, and improved herd health.
Prebiotic supplements including
oligosaccharides, fructooligosaccharides, and galactosyl-
lactose improve the growth performance of animals. Probiotics used in animal feed are mainly bacterial strains of Gram-positive bacteria and have been effectively used for
weight gain in chickens, pigs, ruminants and in aquaculture.
Antibiotics,
prebiotics and probiotics all modify the gut microbiota and the effect of a probiotic species on the digestive flora is probably determined by
bacteriocin production. Regulations governing the introduction of novel probiotics and
prebiotics vary by geographical region and bias is very common in industry-funded studies. Probiotic and
prebiotic foods have been consumed for centuries, either as natural components of food, or as fermented foods and it is possible to cause the same
weight gain effects in humans as in animals. This review presents the use of growth promoters in food-producing animals to influence food intake and
weight gain.