Beneficial By-products of Probiotics, Postbiotics

2024-05-08

Probiotics, prebiotics, and symbiotic combinations have gained widespread use, with well-established production systems and regulations. The administration of live microorganisms to living organisms carries inherent risks and necessitates careful consideration, particularly in individuals experiencing stress or having compromised gastrointestinal (GI) flora, which can increase the risk of fungemia and bacteremia. Consequently, the new concept of postbiotics has emerged to address these limitations. In 2021, the International Scientific Association for Probiotics and Prebiotics (ISAPP) established the following comprehensive definition of postbiotics: preparations of inanimate microorganisms and/or their components that confer a health benefit on the host. This definition encompasses various related concepts, including paraprobiotics, , metabiotics, tyndallized probiotics, and bacterial lysates.LAB(Lactic acid bacteria) are known for their ability to produce a variety of health-promoting metabolites, including exopolysaccharides, fructooligosaccharides, short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), conjugated linoleic acids, bacteriocins, and selenoproteins. These metabolites have demonstrated promising health benefits, including antioxidant properties, immunoregulation, and enhancement of epithelial barrier function, making LAB the most widely used probiotics and initial material for postbiotics.

 

The field of postbiotic research has undergone significant expansion, encompassing not only the gut but also the skin and respiratory and urogenital tracts. Postbiotics elicit beneficial effects on the host microbiota through three potential mechanisms. First, certain postbiotics contain antimicrobial substances, such as bacteriocins, that can inhibit the growth of pathogens. Second, some postbiotics indirectly modulate the gut environment by introducing organic acids, thereby influencing pH levels to establish conditions that are conducive for the growth of beneficial microorganisms while impeding the proliferation of pathogens. Third, postbiotics may encompass structural components, such as fimbriae and lectins, that enhance adhesion to specific sites, thereby facilitating the establishment of beneficial microbial populations.

 

One notable application of postbiotics is in the treatment of GI disorders, such as H. pylori infection, IBS, and diarrhea. While studies have demonstrated the effectiveness of probiotics (e.g., Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium) in managing these conditions, inanimate forms of certain strains of Lactobacillus have been found to be particularly effective in inhibiting the growth of H. pylori. Freeze-dried bacterial fragments of Lactobacilli can reduce the frequency of infection episodes in individuals with recurrent respiratory tract infections. Additionally, rats receiving various epigenetic preparations (the lysate and cell-free supernatant of Lactic acid bacteria) showed significant increases in overall bone mineral density (BMD), while Bacillus coagulans supernatant resulted in significant enhancement of tibial BMD.These all illustrate the effects of postbiotics on health.

 

As our understanding of the influence of postbiotics on living organisms continues to grow, their application in clinical and nutritional settings, as well as animal husbandry, is expected to expand. Moreover, by substituting postbiotics for antibiotics, we can promote health and productivity while minimizing adverse effects. This alternative approach holds immense potential for improving health outcomes and revolutionizing the food industries.

 

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