This paper examines the impact of inulin, Lactobacillus spp. (candidate probiotics), and synbiotic (inulin + Lactobacillus spp.) preparation on oxalate degrading activity and viability of Escherichia coli. In this study, the lowest viability of E. coli was recorded for the synbiotic treatments of Lactobacillus fermentum BP5 (59%) and IP5 (60%). The oxalate degrading activity of L. fermentum IP5 was 38.18 and 29.60% higher than the other strains after growth in 10 mM and 20 mM MRS-ox plus 5% inulin media, respectively. The mixture of three strains demonstrated higher oxalate degrading capacity than the individual strains and showed the same good growth rates (9.43 CFU mL À1 ) as individuals. The study concludes that the addition of prebiotics has a significant effect on probiotics; therefore, a combination of L. fermentum IP5 with inulin could be a viable probiotic-based functional food approach in administering oxalate metabolism and also treatment of E. coli-related infections. Effect of prebiotic on oxalate degradation D. € Onal Darilmaz et al. the MRS-ox plus 5% inulin were found significant (P < 0.05). b Control: MRS broth (pH 6.8) without inulin and E. coli ATCC 11105. c Refrence strains. d Mixed culture: Mixed culture consist of MP1, IP5 and YG7 strains. Effect of prebiotic on oxalate degradation D. € Onal Darilmaz et al. 125 a Values are means AE standard deviations from experimenst done in triplicate. Differences in MRS-ox and MRS-ox plus 5% inulin for degrading activity were found to be significant (P < 0.05). b Control: MRS (pH 6.8) (Without sodium oxalate and inulin). c Refrence strains. d Mixed culture: Mixed culture consist of MP1, IP5 and YG7 strains. Effect of prebiotic on oxalate degradation D. € Onal Darilmaz et al. to be significant (P < 0.05). b Control: MRS (pH 6.8) (Without sodium oxalate and inulin). c Refrence strains. d Mixed culture: Mixed culture consist of MP1, IP5 and YG7 strains. Effect of prebiotic on oxalate degradation D. € Onal Darilmaz et al. Effect of prebiotic on oxalate degradation D. € Onal Darilmaz et al.