The Power Of Postbiotics: What They Are & How They Support Our Overall Health

The link between the gut microbiome and overall human health is a hot area of scientific research, which is why you're likely familiar with prebiotics and probiotics. But I'd be willing to wager you haven't paid much attention to the "biotics" that may matter the most: postbiotics.

While the scientific community is still debating the exact definition of postbiotics, broadly speaking, the term refers to compounds resulting from the microorganisms in our gut1.

There are several different postbiotic compounds2 that have already been identified. These include short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), vitamins, polysaccharides, proteins, and lipids—each exerting its own beneficial effect. While researchers are still discovering the many ways postbiotics affect our health, the following have been well studied with promising results demonstrating their benefits.

Direct supplementation with Urolithin A overcomes limitations of dietary exposure and gut microbiome variability in healthy adults to achieve consistent levels across the population.

These postbiotics may help preserve the integrity of the intestinal barrier7, making them helpful in treating inflammatory bowel disease and other digestive disorders. Additionally, SCFAs are being studied8 for their use in preventing cancer growth, supporting healthy blood sugar levels, and modulating immune function.

However, studies from early in the 2010s9 showed that only 30 to 60% of the Japanese population could convert soy isoflavones to equol and therefore were not able to get the health benefits associated with this postbiotic. Just like with Urolithin A, this may need to be taken as a supplement in order to get maximal benefit.

Beta-glucans are a polysaccharide structural component of the cell wall of fungi, yeast, and some bacteria. They also are found in cereals such as oats and barley. These compounds are detected by receptors in the intestines and stimulate an immunologic response10. Studies have shown that beta-glucans can modulate the activity of immune cells11, activating their antimicrobial activity. They also support health by increasing the absorption of carotenoids, antioxidants with anti-inflammatory properties, and promoting the adherence of healthy bacteria to the gut lining. These immune modulators are being studied for their use as a treatment for several immune-related conditions.

Postbiotics are the next frontier of understanding the gut microbiome. As research continues to unfold, postbiotic therapy is likely to become an important tool in treating a wide variety of health conditions, from improving immunity to promoting healthy aging.