Postbiotics

Postbiotic metabolites may have biological effects. Postbiotics are metabolic byproducts and structural components derived from microbial fermentation, distinct from live bacteria and nutrient substrates. Postbiotics differ from probiotics, which are live bacteria. Postbiotics differ from prebiotics, which are dietary substrates that feed bacteria. Postbiotics are compounds produced after bacteria metabolize inputs. Postbiotics are bioactive compounds produced from interactions between prebiotics and probiotics in the body. Evidence on postbiotics is still emerging, but the article says current evidence supports GI health, IBS symptom improvement, barrier strengthening, and improved immune response. SCFAs are presented as the primary mechanism by which prebiotics and probiotics create anti-inflammatory gut conditions and systemic health effects. Postbiotics are functional metabolites produced by bacteria. Butyrate is presented as a postbiotic produced by probiotic strains in the referenced example. The article presents exogenous supplementation as the primary viable route for urolithin A because most people cannot generate meaningful amounts endogenously.