The clinical evidence for postbiotics as microbial therapeutics

An optimally operating microbiome supports protective, metabolic, and immune functions, but disruptions produce metabolites and toxins which can be involved in many conditions. Probiotics have the potential to manage these. However, their use in vulnerable people is linked to possible safety concern...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Published in:Gut Microbes
Main Authors: Alexis Mosca, Ana Teresa Abreu Y Abreu, Kok Ann Gwee, Gianluca Ianiro, Jan Tack, Thi Viet Ha Nguyen, Colin Hill
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Taylor & Francis Group 2022-12-01
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/19490976.2022.2117508
Description
Summary:An optimally operating microbiome supports protective, metabolic, and immune functions, but disruptions produce metabolites and toxins which can be involved in many conditions. Probiotics have the potential to manage these. However, their use in vulnerable people is linked to possible safety concerns and maintaining their viability is difficult. Interest in postbiotics is therefore increasing. Postbiotics contain inactivated microbial cells or cell components, thus are more stable and exert similar health benefits to probiotics. To review the evidence for the clinical benefits of postbiotics in highly prevalent conditions and consider future potential areas of benefit. There is growing evidence revealing the diverse clinical benefits of postbiotics in many prevalent conditions. Postbiotics could offer a novel therapeutic approach and may be a safer alternative to probiotics. Establishing interaction mechanisms between postbiotics and commensal microorganisms will improve the understanding of potential clinical benefits and may lead to targeted postbiotic therapy.
ISSN:1949-0976
1949-0984