Bioactive carbohydrates: a mini‐review

Abstract

Bioactive carbohydrates, including dietary fibers, prebiotics and resistant starches, play emerging roles in gut health, metabolic regulation, as well as chronic disease prevention. This mini review systematically classifies these compounds, summarizes their mechanisms of action, and evaluates their current and potential applications in functional food development. It also identifies several critical gaps, for example: how structural properties (type, source, molecular characteristics) and non‐short‐chain fatty acid fermentation metabolites influence physiological outcomes, the challenge of maintaining stability and functionality during processing (heat and pH optimization), the need to investigate nano‐carbohydrate systems and prebiotic delivery matrices for microbiota modulation, metabolite release, and bioavailability, and the optimization of resistant starch extraction and application to balance functional benefits with sensory quality and in vivo validation. Translational evidence gaps, regulatory frameworks, personalized nutrition, and microbiome‐based therapeutics are also discussed as future priorities. Generally, this mini‐review provides a brief overview of the role of bioactive carbohydrates in food and nutrition. © 2026 Society of Chemical Industry.