The term postbiotics have been used to the fermentation products, produced by the gut the microbiome which has beneficial effects both in and outside the gut. The microbiota in the gut are live bacteria fungi etc. The healthy microbiome is good for human health while the unhealthy gut microbiota are toxic to our body
One group is called short-chain fatty acid byproducts produced by microbes during fermentation and can be found in fermented foods. A similar process happens in our bodies by microbes in our gut These byproducts of microbe metabolism include short chain fatty acids, cell components and peptides, and even gases such as hydrogen , hydrogen sulphide and products of nitrogen in a gaseous state. These are non viable products. These are the immediate messengers of the gut microbiota to our body
How Postbiotics Support Health
There are bacteria, and fungi and other organisms in the microbiome. Some are helpful and some can be toxic. These can be affected by many factors, including our diet the pre and probiotics we take and antibiotics we take. When we have a healthy gut microbiome it can do wonders. if you have a bad microbiome ( eg after antibiotics) it can do the opposite,
Whether the gases produce by the gut is absorbed into the blood and has effects on metabolism and energy production is possible
In addition gut microbiome also produces neurotransmitters that play a role in mental health including dopamine, serotonin and norepinephrine. and even the short chain fatty acids may have a significant role in the brain
These insights contributed to a reappreciation of food fermentation and gave rise to the postbiotics concept. Postbiotics are functional fermentation compounds, like the ones mentioned above, that can be used in combination with nutritional components to promote health.
Two commonly mentioned types of postbiotics are paraprobiotics and FIFs. Paraprobiotics, or ghost probiotics, non-viable probiotics or inactivated probiotics, are now often defined as ‘non-viable or inactivated microbial cells, which, when administered in sufficient amounts confer benefits to the host’ . FIFs are infant or follow-on formula that have been fermented with lactic acid-producing or other bacteria and in most cases do not contain viable bacteria .
In conclusion, postbiotics may contribute to the improvement of host health, even though the exact mechanisms are not clear. Moreover, due to advances in measuring the composition and function of the gut microbiome we enter a new era of ‘-biotic’ research.
Personalized Nutritional Plans
The analysis of the composition in stools and the gases expelled and will continue to contribute to extend the range of compounds with potential health benefits that can be applied in customized nutrition. Ideally, advances in gut microbiota research will contribute to specifically design individual recommendations in terms of personalized nutrition or interventions to improve health.
Postbiotics can be an elegant and safe method to improve health as postbiotics have less challenges compared to viable probiotics in terms of storage and shelf-life.
Several studies show comparable results for the viable probiotic and the non viable postbiotic products and may a safer alternative to probiotics in immunocompromised or severely ill children
Also Furthermore, postbiotics and bioactive compounds may be an effective way to increase the potency of probiotics to turn them into functional ingredients or therapeutic agents
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