Postbiotics: A new member in the biotics family

Abstract

Postbiotics were defined in 2021 by the International Scientific Association for Probiotics and Prebiotics (ISAPP) as a “preparation of inanimate microorganisms and/or their cellular components that confers a health benefit to the host.” The field of postbiotics is a new area within the biotics family; numerous products have already been developed for clinical applications, such as immune stimulation, the management of diarrhea in children and adults, the management of irritable bowel syndrome, and 3 infant formulas. In particular, infant formulas with postbiotics obtained from milk fermented with Bifidobacterium breve C50 and Streptococcus thermophilus O65 —and their metabolites—, including the oligosaccharide 3‘-GL, have demonstrated to be safe and to contribute to the development of the gut microbiota and the gut-associated immune system. These modifications help to prevent and manage functional gastrointestinal disorders in infants.