Key Points
- Introduction to Postbiotics:
- Postbiotics are non-living microbial byproducts that offer various health benefits. They strengthen our immune system, maintain gut health, and have potential against diseases including SARS-CoV-2.
- Unlike live bacteria, they do not pose risks of unwanted bacterial invasion in the bloodstream, making them safe for vulnerable groups like children and those with weaker immune systems.
- They have applications in both the food and beauty industries and are produced primarily through fermentation.
- Diverse Health Impacts:
- Every individual has a unique gut microbiota influenced by genetics and the environment. While the benefits of gut bacteria traditionally focus on living organisms, non-viable bacterial components (postbiotics) have emerged as beneficial.
- Postbiotics include a variety of antimicrobial compounds and demonstrate stability in production and storage. They influence immune responses, modulate microbiota, enhance gut barriers, and even interact with the nervous system.
- Defining and Exploring Postbiotics:
- Experts have worked on defining postbiotics as inanimate microorganisms or their components that provide health benefits.
- These postbiotics not only benefit gut health but have shown potential in modulating the immune system, fighting harmful microbes, and even showing anti-cancer activities. Certain foods, especially fermented ones, can boost postbiotic levels in our bodies.
- The Composition and Production of Postbiotics:
- The human gastrointestinal tract houses a vast number of microbes, and while living microbes offer benefits, their by-products, postbiotics, also play a significant role in health.
- Derived from various components like cell fragments, fatty acids, and enzymes, postbiotics are produced during processes like food processing or advanced laboratory techniques. They offer advantages like stability and safety compared to probiotics.
- Diverse Components and Benefits:
- Postbiotics come in various forms including bacterial lysates, bioactive metabolites, neurotransmitters, and exopolysaccharides (EPS).
- These compounds have a myriad of health benefits, ranging from combating inflammatory conditions, and offering potential in cancer treatments, to providing skincare benefits.
- Gut bacteria produce essential compounds, including vitamins and neurotransmitters that play a vital role in human health.
In This Article:
The Power of Postbiotics
Postbiotics are byproducts from non-living microbes.
These compounds benefit our health by strengthening our immune system, preventing harmful pathogen growth, and maintaining gut health.
They also show promise against diseases, including viruses like SARS-CoV-2.
Unlike live bacteria, postbiotics are safer with no risk of unwanted bacteria entering our bloodstream.
They’re especially useful for those with weaker immune systems, young children, and infants. In the food and beauty industries, they enhance nutrition and improve skin health.
Produced through methods like fermentation, it’s crucial to ensure their quality and safety.
While newer than pre- and pro-biotics, postbiotics hold immense potential for our well-being.
Postbiotics: The Future of Gut Health
Each individual has a unique set of microbiota shaped by their genetics and environment, starting from birth 1.
While many health benefits of gut bacteria depend on their viability, recent findings suggest that even non-viable bacteria components can be beneficial.
This has led to a focus on “postbiotics”—non-living microorganisms and their byproducts that offer health advantages 2.
Postbiotics include diverse antimicrobial compounds, both low and high molecular weight.
Lactobacillus, a type of Lactic acid bacteria, is a key player in postbiotic production.
One notable advantage of postbiotics is their stability in production and storage.
Since they can’t replicate, they pose fewer risks than probiotics, avoiding issues like harmful bacterial growth3.
How postbiotics work is fascinating.
They modulate resident microbiota, enhance gut barrier functions, influence immune responses, and even interact with the nervous system.
The potential applications of postbiotics are vast, from treating conditions like diabetes to food preservation and skin health.
However, as the field is emerging, a clear definition and consensus on postbiotics are needed.
Their exact mechanisms, clinical benefits, and potential applications in therapy and food industries are exciting areas of ongoing research.
Unlocking the Potential of Postbiotics
In 2019, a group of experts from varied disciplines gathered under ISAPP to pinpoint what “postbiotics” really are 2.
They defined postbiotics as inanimate microorganisms or their components that provide health benefits.
Unlike probiotics, which are live bacteria, postbiotics consist of these microbes in an inactivated state, often containing health-promoting metabolites or cellular components.
These benefits aren’t just limited to gut health.
Postbiotics have shown potential in areas like immune system modulation, combating harmful microbes, and even anti-cancer activities.
They can reduce inflammation, oxidative stress, and other health markers like blood pressure and cholesterol.
However, caution is needed for certain groups like those with recent surgeries, heart disorders, digestive issues, expectant mothers, and children due to potential risks.
Interestingly, certain foods can boost postbiotic levels in our system.
This includes fermented products like yogurt, buttermilk, and even high-fiber foods like oats. However, the efficacy of postbiotics can be influenced by various factors.
Internal aspects, like enzymes and other food components, might inhibit their functions4.
For example, certain enzymes, like pepsin and trypsin, can interfere with postbiotic activity.
Externally, factors like the pH level of foods and temperature during storage or preparation play roles too5.
Even though the study of postbiotics is newer compared to their prebiotic and probiotic counterparts, they offer clear advantages: they’re pure, stable, and can be mass-produced with precision.
As research continues, the role of postbiotics in shaping health, nutrition, and disease management is set to expand.
Postbiotics Components: A Glimpse into Gut Health & Beyond
Inside every human’s gastrointestinal tract, there are trillions of microbes with over 3 million genes, most densely populated in the large intestine6.
This unique community, known as the microbiome, starts forming in the fetus and is crucial for our development 7.
While it houses both helpful and harmful microbes, it’s essential for this balance to remain.
An imbalance, termed dysbiosis, can lead to multiple health issues, ranging from gut problems to psychiatric disturbances 8.
Interestingly, it’s not always the living microbes offering health benefits.
In many cases, it’s their by-products – termed postbiotics.
Unlike pre- and probiotics, postbiotics come with reduced risks and are increasingly seen as a way to restore our gut balance 9.
Postbiotics are derived from things like cell fragments, fatty acids, enzymes, and more, and are produced in various ways, such as during food processing or even in labs using techniques like sonication10.
Although probiotics, like the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae var. boulardii, have made their way into many foods, there’s a rising interest in postbiotic versions, which offer benefits like longer shelf life and enhanced safety 11.
Cutting-edge research is diving deep into postbiotics, using advanced tech to understand them better for potential therapeutic uses 12.
Some postbiotic products, like Lacteol, are already commercially available and used for health benefits 13.
A significant advantage of postbiotics over probiotics is their stability; they don’t require the same rigorous storage conditions, blending well with food without changing taste, and proving safe for vulnerable groups.
They function in diverse ways, influencing various body systems through pathways like the Gut-brain and Gut-lung axes14.
Non-Living Probiotics
Various methods, including heat and radiation, produce non-viable probiotics.
Despite their inactivation, these cells maintain key biological activities similar to living probiotics, such as reducing inflammation and interacting with specific pathogens15.
Cell-Free Suspensions in Health
Microbes produce beneficial compounds, which, when separated from their cells, contain valuable antioxidants and anti-inflammatory agents 16.
For instance, Lactobacillus fermentum‘s cell-free culture can potentially combat colorectal cancer 17.
Moreover, Lactobacillus reuten‘s filtrate has been suggested to fight dental diseases18.
A notable study also found that probiotic strains could suppress harmful bacteria in poultry meat, hinting at its future role in food safety.
These suspensions, particularly from Lactobacillus and Pediococcus species, contain compounds that combat harmful microbes like Staphylococcus aureus and E. coli by disrupting their cell structures 19.
Additionally, the Weissella cibaria probiotic strain has demonstrated its ability to battle gum disease-causing bacteria20.
Compared to isolated compounds, these suspensions often have a more profound effect on health due to a synergy of their bioactive molecules21.
When studied, certain lactobacilli strains presented a range of beneficial compounds, including antioxidants and agents that can remove harmful biofilms (Moradi et al., 2020).
One specific suspension, from Enterococcus faecalis, even showcased its potential for food preservation 22.
Exopolysaccharides
Exopolysaccharides (EPS) are complex sugars produced by microbes such as Lactobacilli23.
These molecules serve dual purposes: protecting the microorganisms and positively impacting human health.
For instance, specific EPS from Lactobacillus has been shown to balance inflammation in the body by both reducing pro-inflammatory agents and boosting anti-inflammatory ones 24.
Other findings reveal that EPS might offer benefits against diseases like diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, and even certain cancers by inhibiting harmful biofilm formation and exhibiting antioxidant properties25.
Beyond health, EPS from some bacteria find versatile applications in industries ranging from food to textiles, with some already utilized as food additives26.
Extraction of EPS is a meticulous process that results in varied structures depending on their source, influencing their biological effects 27.
Separately, extracellular vesicles (EVs) are tiny structures released by bacteria. Packed with a variety of compounds, they play vital roles in maintaining gut health, regulating lipid metabolism, and facilitating communication within the body 28.
Bacterial Cell Walls
Bacterial cell walls are intricate structures primarily composed of lipopolysaccharide in Gram-negative bacteria and peptidoglycan in both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria29.
A significant component of the Gram-positive cell wall is peptidoglycan, which can constitute up to 70% of it.
This structure also contains teichoic acids, unique to Gram-positive bacteria, and divided into wall teichoic acid and lipo teichoic acids30.
These components play a pivotal role in host signaling and adhesion12.
When these cell wall components interact with our immune system, they can stimulate the release of cytokines.
However, an excessive release may lead to severe complications like septic shock31.
Research also suggests that specific components like the proteins p75 and p40 from Lactobacillus rhamnosus protect the gut lining32.
Additionally, teichoic acid has shown potential anticancer properties, particularly against liver cancer cells33.
On the other hand, bacterial pili, long extensions on bacterial surfaces, have been noted for their importance in adhering to the intestinal wall and influencing the infant immune system34.
Bacterial Lysates
Bacterial lysates, created by breaking down bacterial cells, offer a myriad of health advantages.
Studies have shown their potential in combating inflammatory conditions like ulcerative colitis.
Specifically, lysates from Lactobacillus caseii can prevent inflammatory bowel diseases, potentially by balancing the gut’s bacterial composition, reinforcing the intestinal barrier, and regulating immune responses35.
A notable observation from Mi 36 revealed that lysates from Bacillus velezensis, found in a Korean fermented food, boost immune activity.
Furthermore, lysates from probiotics like Lactobacillus acidophilus and Bifidobacterium longum have been associated with increased bone mineral density, suggesting their potential role in osteoporosis treatment37.
Bifidobacterium longum lysate has also shown promising results in managing reactive skin conditions38.
Due to their potential skin benefits, many skincare brands have started including bacterial lysates in their products 39.
Additionally, lysates from specific Lactobacillus species have demonstrated an ability to suppress colorectal tumor cell growth40.
Enhanced immune response in cancer patients has also been linked to heat-shocked lysates of L. plantarum, likely due to increased heat-shock proteins41.
Bioactive metabolites
Beneficial gut microbes produce substances crucial for health.
Amiri highlighted how waste like cheese whey can be used for producing vital metabolites such as CLA, EPSs, and BACs by Bifidobacterium lactis 42.
To understand these metabolites, advanced techniques, such as HPLC and NMR, are employed5.
Their composition varies based on microbial strains and culture conditions, emphasizing the importance of optimal fermentation settings.
Vitamins
Vitamins are essential compounds our bodies can’t produce on their own.
While we usually think of foods like spinach or oranges as our primary vitamin sources, did you know our gut bacteria also play a role?
The gut is home to friendly bacteria like lactic acid bacteria and Bifidobacterium sp. that produce vitamins vital for our health, such as vitamin K and certain B vitamins.
These nutrients can be found abundantly in fermented foods like yogurt43.
Neurotransmitters
These chemical messengers, including serotonin and dopamine, affect our brain’s function.
Fascinatingly, gut bacteria are responsible for producing some of these compounds, impacting our mood and even memory44.
Biosurfactants
These compounds are made by microbes and act against harmful bacteria.
By disrupting harmful bacteria’s cellular structures, biosurfactants prevent infections and diseases45.
Short Chain Fatty Acids (SCFs)
SCFs, produced from indigestible carbs by bacteria like Bacteroides, have numerous health benefits.
They support gut health, regulate colon functions, and even offer protection against certain diseases46.
Bacteriocins
These are proteins made by certain bacteria that can kill or inhibit the growth of other harmful bacteria.
Their potential in food preservation is remarkable.
For instance, nisin, a bacteriocin, has been approved by regulatory authorities for food preservation 47.
Researchers are also studying bacteriocins for their antimicrobial, anticancer, and antiviral properties (Soltani et al., 2020).
Hydrogen Peroxide
This compound, made by specific bacteria, helps combat diseases and improves gut health conditions.
For instance, studies have suggested that it can be effective against certain pathogens and might even offer protection against viruses like SARS-2 COVID by enhancing the immune response48.
In summary, the microorganisms living within us don’t just help digest our food.
They play a significant role in our overall health by producing a range of vital compounds.
Recognizing and harnessing this potential could lead to groundbreaking therapies and treatments in the future.
Discussion
Postbiotics have emerged as a promising frontier in the vast landscape of gut health, wellness, and disease prevention.
Their intriguing nature, being non-viable by-products of microbial activity, offers a unique perspective on harnessing the benefits of microbial action without the challenges posed by living organisms.
As we navigate through the multi-faceted realm of postbiotics, a few key observations become apparent:
- Diverse Benefits: From modulating the immune system to counteracting harmful pathogens and potential applications in disease management such as diabetes and skin health, postbiotics present a plethora of potential health advantages. Their role is not confined to gut health; they exhibit systemic influences, including interactions with the nervous system.
- Safety and Stability: Unlike probiotics, postbiotics don’t pose risks of unwanted bacterial growth. Their inability to replicate reduces the risks of imbalances in the microbial ecosystem of the host. Additionally, their stable nature makes them amenable to varied applications, particularly in the food and cosmetics industry.
- Complexity and Variation: The term “postbiotics” encompasses a vast array of compounds, ranging from cell-free suspensions to bacterial lysates and bioactive metabolites. Each carries its unique set of properties, influenced by factors like the source of microbes, extraction or production processes, and storage conditions.
- Potential in Therapeutics and Industry: While many postbiotic components, like exopolysaccharides and bacterial lysates, have showcased potential therapeutic uses, their industrial applications are also noteworthy. The cosmetics sector and food preservation are just the tip of the iceberg.
Conclusion
Postbiotics marks a significant stride in our ongoing journey to comprehend and harness the might of the microbiome for holistic health and well-being.
Their vast array of components, from antimicrobial agents to neurotransmitters, showcases the depth and breadth of their potential.
While they offer notable advantages in terms of stability and safety, especially for vulnerable populations, it’s crucial that the scientific community continues its rigorous research to delineate their exact mechanisms, long-term effects, and optimal application methodologies.
Furthermore, as the awareness and popularity of postbiotics grow, it becomes imperative for regulators and stakeholders to establish clear definitions, quality standards, and usage guidelines.
This will not only ensure the safe and effective use of postbiotics but also cement their position as a cornerstone in the next generation of health and wellness solutions.
Lastly, the inherent link between diet, particularly fermented foods, and postbiotic levels in our system underscores the timeless wisdom of traditional dietary practices.
As we step into the future, it’s with a nod to the past, acknowledging once more that sometimes, the best solutions lie in nature’s lap, waiting to be discovered and understood.
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