The human microbiome is the center of our health. The interaction of probiotics and prebiotics contributes to the stability of the microbiome and can have a positive effect on your general health, especially on digestion and the immune system. Now a new class of bioactive substances is increasingly becoming the focus of intestinal health: postbiotics . According to current studies*, these represent a promising addition to the tried and tested means that we can specifically supply to our intestines for a strong microbiome.
But what are postbiotics actually?
While probiotics are live bacteria that are specifically administered to support the intestinal flora, postbiotics are the inactive components or metabolic products of these bacteria.
Postbiotics are therefore beneficial substances produced by probiotic ("good") bacteria when they ferment certain food components. These also include remnants of the bacteria themselves, which still have positive effects after they have been inactivated. Postbiotics improve the barrier function of the intestine, can strengthen the immune system and reduce inflammation. Postbiotics include, among others, short-chain fatty acids (e.g. butyrate), enzymes , cell wall fragments of the bacteria, vitamins (e.g. vitamin B and vitamin K) as well as amino acids and other bioactive molecules.
Pre-, pro- and postbiotics - what are the differences?
Although probiotics, prebiotics and postbiotics each play different roles in the body, they work hand in hand to keep the microbiome in balance and support overall health:
- Probiotics are beneficial, living microorganisms.
- Prebiotics provide food for these microorganisms. They are not living organisms, but indigestible components of food - the so-called fiber.
- Postbiotics are valuable end products that arise from the activity of living intestinal bacteria and offer numerous direct health benefits.
What makes probiotics so interesting?
- Stability: Due to their inactive form, postbiotics are particularly stable and less susceptible to environmental influences. This makes them a complementary option alongside proven probiotics.
- Spectrum of effects: Postbiotics offer a diverse range of potential health benefits that are receiving increasing attention in research. They complement the positive effects of live probiotics in an optimal way.
- Tolerability: As inactive substances, postbiotics are generally well tolerated and can be a useful supplement to probiotics, especially for people who may be sensitive to live bacteria.
A balanced diet rich in prebiotic foods and natural sources of probiotics can promote the growth of good bacteria in the gut while stimulating the production of postbiotics, supporting your microbiome on all levels.
