Prebiotics and Postbiotics: The synergistic potential in regulating the gut microbiota and host health
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.54097/4ngfgw50Keywords:
Prebiotics, Postbiotics, gut, microbiota.Abstract
Using prebiotics, probiotics and their synergistic combination to perform therapeutic operations on intestinal microflora has become a potential way to prevent and control chronic metabolic diseases and inflammatory diseases. Indigestible prebiotics (selectively stimulating beneficial bacteria, and post-production elements (effective metabolites or components formed by microbial activities) will all help to reshape the intestinal environment and adjust the immune response and metabolic status of the host. This account brings together the latest research on various compounds, including inulin, arabinoxylan oligosaccharide, muramyl dipeptide, extracellular vesicle and plant-derived polysaccharide, all of which show that these substances can promote SCFA to strengthen the integrity of intestinal barrier and regulate inflammation. The synbiotic method of combining prebiotics and probiotics or the products produced by these interactions have an amplification effect on regulating microbial communities and host pathways. After summarizing their action mechanisms and applications, the transformation potential of implementing nutritional strategies for microorganisms is highlighted.
Downloads
References
[1] Müller Mattea, Hermes Gerben D A, Canfora Emanuel E, et al. Effect of wheat bran derived prebiotic supplementation on gastrointestinal transit, gut microbiota, and metabolic health: a randomized controlled trial in healthy adults with a slow gut transit. Gut Microbes, 2020, 12(1): 1704141.
[2] Salazar Nuria, Dewulf Evelyne M, Neyrinck Audrey M, et al. Inulin-type fructans modulate intestinal Bifidobacterium species populations and decrease fecal short-chain fatty acids in obese women. Clinical Nutrition, 2015, 34(3): 501–507. doi: 10.1016/j.clnu.2014.06.001.
[3] Li Xin, Zheng Pan, Zou Yaoyu, et al. Dietary inulin ameliorates obesity-induced severe acute pancreatitis via gut-pancreas axis. Gut Microbes, 2024, 16(1): 2436949. doi:10.1080/19490976.2024.2436949.
[4] Lawson Melissa A E, O'Neill Ian J, Kujawska Magdalena, et al. Breast milk-derived human milk oligosaccharides promote Bifidobacterium interactions within a single ecosystem. ISME Journal, 2020, 14(2): 635–648. doi:10.1038/s41396-019-0553-2.
[5] Yang Shuo, Cai Junwu, Su Qian, et al. Human milk oligosaccharides combine with Bifidobacterium longum to form the "golden shield" of the infant intestine: metabolic strategies, health effects, and mechanisms of action. Gut Microbes, 2024, 16(1): 2430418. doi:10.1080/19490976.2024.2430418.
[6] Li Kefei, Ran Xin, Han Jiaxi, et al. Astragalus polysaccharide alleviates mastitis disrupted by Staphylococcus aureus infection by regulating gut microbiota and SCFAs metabolism. International Journal of Biological Macromolecules, 2025, 286: 138422. doi: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2024.138422.
[7] Zhang Yu, Ji Wenting, Qin Hailong, et al. Astragalus polysaccharides alleviate DSS-induced ulcerative colitis in mice by restoring SCFA production and regulating Th17/Treg cell homeostasis in a microbiota-dependent manner. Carbohydrate Polymers, 2025, 349(Pt A): 122829. doi: 10.1016/j.carbpol.2024.122829.
[8] Guo Weiling, Liu Wenkun, Liang Peng, et al. High molecular weight polysaccharides from Ganoderma lucidum attenuates inflammatory responses, gut microbiota, and liver metabolomic in lipopolysaccharide-induced liver injury mice. International Journal of Biological Macromolecules, 2025, 287: 138400. doi: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2024.138400.
[9] Li Kuan, Wei Wei, Xu Chongchong, et al. Prebiotic inulin alleviates anxiety and depression-like behavior in alcohol withdrawal mice by modulating the gut microbiota and 5-HT metabolism. Phytomedicine, 2024, 135: 156181. doi: 10.1016/j.phymed.2024.156181.
[10] Zhou Lanqi, Song Wei, Liu Tianqi, et al. multi-omics insights into anti-colitis benefits of the synbiotic and postbiotic derived from wheat bran arabinoxylan and Limosilactobacillus reuteri. International Journal of Biological Macromolecules, 2024, 278(Pt 3): 134860. doi: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2024.134860.
[11] Du Shumin, Sun Rui, Wang Minting, et al. Synergistic effect of inulin hydrogels on multi-strain probiotics for prevention of ionizing radiation-induced injury. International Journal of Biological Macromolecules, 2025, 287: 138497. doi: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2024.138497.
[12] Li Jinyan, Shi Mengdie, Wang Yubo, et al. Probiotic-derived extracellular vesicles alleviate AFB1-induced intestinal injury by modulating the gut microbiota and AHR activation. Journal of Nanobiotechnology, 2024, 22(1): 697. doi:10.1186/s12951-024-02979-3.
[13] Liu Xiaolin, Ma Ying, Guan Kaifang, et al. Intestinal barrier, immunity and gut microbiota-based protective effects of Lactococcus lactis HF08 and its postbiotic derivative on aging and aging colitis mice. Food Research International, 2024, 197(Pt 1): 115164. doi: 10.1016/j.foodres.2024.115164.
[14] Itoh Tomohiro, Miyazono Daiki, Sugata Hayato, et al. Anti-inflammatory effects of heat-killed Lactiplantibacillus argentoratensis BBLB001 on a gut inflammation co-culture cell model and dextran sulfate sodium-induced colitis mouse model. International Immunopharmacology, 2024, 143(Pt 2): 113408. doi: 10.1016/j.intimp.2024.113408.
[15] Guo Shuai, Ma Teng, Kwok Lai-Yu, et al. Effects of postbiotics on chronic diarrhea in young adults: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover trial assessing clinical symptoms, gut microbiota, and metabolite profiles. Gut Microbes, 2024, 16(1): 2395092. doi:10.1080/19490976.2024.2395092.
[16] Williams Laura, Alshehri Amal, Robichaud Bianca, et al. The role of the bacterial muramyl dipeptide in the regulation of GLP-1 and glycemia. International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 2020, 21(15): 5252. doi:10.3390/ijms21155252.
[17] Tain You-Lin, Hou Chih-Yao, Chang-Chien Guo-Ping, et al. Reprogramming effects of postbiotic butyrate and propionate on maternal high-fructose diet-induced offspring hypertension. Nutrients, 2023, 15(7): 1682. doi:10.3390/nu15071682.
[18] Feng Cuijiao, Zhang Weiqin, Zhang Tao, et al. Heat-killed Bifidobacterium bifidum B1628 may alleviate dextran sulfate sodium-induced colitis in mice, and the anti-inflammatory effect is associated with gut microbiota modulation. Nutrients, 2022, 14(24): 5233. doi:10.3390/nu14245233.
[19] Yin Ruopeng, Wang Tao, Sun Jingzu, et al. Postbiotics from Lactobacillus johnsonii activates gut innate immunity to mitigate alcohol-associated liver disease. Advanced Science, 2025, 12(2): e2405781. doi:10.1002/advs.202405781.
[20] Zhao Yueming, Zheng Yaping, Xie Kui, et al. Combating obesity: harnessing the synergy of postbiotics and prebiotics for enhanced lipid excretion and microbiota regulation. Nutrients, 2023, 15(23): 4971. doi:10.3390/nu15234971.
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.
