From probiotics to postbiotics: A new chapter in gut health care

The microbiome: a key system that determines health

More than 30 trillion microbes live within our bodies – silent residents that influence every aspect of our health.

Over the past decade, it has become clear that the balance of the microbiome is one of the key predictors of longevity.

For example, a large-scale analysis published in Nature Aging (2023) showed that people with higher gut bacterial diversity — particularly with greater abundance of Akkermansia and Faecalibacterium — have lower levels of chronic inflammation, better metabolic flexibility, and slower cellular aging.

These bacteria produce short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), which nourish intestinal cells and support cellular pathways associated with regeneration and longevity, such as SIRT1 and AMPK.

But the microbiome also affects mental well-being. Through the gut–brain axis, it regulates the production of neurotransmitters such as GABA and serotonin — and with that, stress resilience, mood, and sleep quality. A study in Translational Psychiatry (2022) confirmed that people with higher microbial diversity show more stable cortisol levels and better emotional reactivity. In short — the microbiome is an invisible organ that connects the body, metabolism, and mind.

And the better we understand it, the more precisely we can influence health and the aging process.

Probiotics – beneficial, but with limitations

We all know probiotics.

On supplement labels, we often see claims like “contains 12 bacterial strains and 20 billion live cultures per capsule.”

These are — at least in the ideal case — live bacteria delivered into the digestive tract to support or restore the body’s own microbiome.

The concept is simple, and for a long time it seemed like the perfect solution. In practice, however, probiotics work very differently from person to person. The reason is that not every probiotic can survive and establish itself in our gut.

For example, Akkermansia muciniphila improves metabolic health only in people who have low baseline levels of it. In others, the effect is minimal.

One explanation is a phenomenon called colonization resistance — the natural ability of the microbiome to protect its environment from new bacteria.

A healthy gut is a highly organized ecosystem in which all ecological niches are occupied and balance is carefully maintained.

Microbes compete for nutrients, build protective layers, and produce compounds that limit the growth of intruders.

So when new bacteria are introduced into such a system, they often have nowhere to settle — and the body responds to this microbial shift by activating defense mechanisms that restore the microbiome to its original state.

Another factor is the viability of probiotics themselves — bacteria must survive the acidic environment of the stomach, bile acids, and digestive enzymes in the small intestine. Many are destroyed before they ever reach the place where they could have an effect.

Probiotics are not ineffective — but their impact is not universal. They work well when the microbiome is weakened or disrupted (for example, after antibiotics), but in a normal, stable ecosystem, their effect is often temporary and highly individual.

Postbiotics — precise and stable communication with the body

While probiotics work with live bacteria, postbiotics represent their next evolutionary step.

They are not microorganisms themselves but the products of their metabolism — bioactive compounds created during fermentation.

These include enzymes, peptides, fatty acids, polyamines, amino acids, B vitamins, antioxidants, and signaling molecules through which the microbiome “communicates” with the body.

Unlike probiotics, postbiotics do not need to survive the acidic environment of the stomach or colonize the gut. They act directly — through receptors on intestinal epithelial cells, immune cells, and nerve endings. 

This ensures a precise and immediate biological response that varies far less from person to person.

So how exactly do postbiotics work in the body? The following section summarizes the key mechanisms described by science.

1. Gut Barrier
Short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) — especially butyrate — serve as the primary energy source for intestinal epithelial cells. They strengthen the gut wall, reduce its permeability (“leaky gut”), and help limit systemic inflammation. A healthy gut barrier is essential for immunity, hormonal balance, and overall vitality.
2. Cellular Regeneration and Longevity
Compounds such as spermidine, produced during microbial fermentation, activate autophagy — the process by which cells remove damaged structures and restore their function. They also support longevity-related pathways, such as SIRT1 and AMPK, similar to fasting or physical activity.
3. Immune Balance
Postbiotics act as a natural “training signal” for the immune system. They help fine-tune the balance between defense and tolerance — between reacting to pathogens and protecting the body’s own tissues. This reduces the risk of chronic inflammation and contributes to greater resilience to stress and infections.
4. Gut–Brain Axis
Some postbiotic metabolites — such as indole-3-propionic acid or GABA — influence the production of serotonin and other neurotransmitters. As a result, they support improved mood, sleep quality, and emotional stability — a biological connection between digestion, emotions, and the nervous system.

Quick Comparison: Probiotics vs. Postbiotics

To better illustrate the difference between the two approaches, here is a clear summary of their key characteristics:

This overview does not claim that one approach replaces the other. Rather, it shows the direction research is moving — from colonization toward precise biological signaling. Probiotics can be seen as the first generation of microbial support — supplementing or restoring the composition of gut bacteria.

Postbiotics represent the second generation — using the natural products of microbial activity to act precisely and without the need for colonization. As a result, a new direction in nutrition and medicine is emerging, one built on stable, targeted, and reproducible effects.

Where is the science of postbiotics heading?

Research on the microbiome is now standing at the threshold of a new era. From the original approach — adding bacteria — it is shifting toward targeted work with their products: postbiotics.

This direction makes it possible to influence the processes behind health, immunity, and longevity with far greater precision. Modern postbiotic formulations use controlled fermentation of multiple microbial species, producing dozens of bioactive compounds: short-chain fatty acids, polyamines (such as spermidine), GABA, indole derivatives, and B vitamins.

These molecules act at the cellular level — strengthening the gut barrier, supporting regeneration, improving metabolic balance, and contributing to mental stability. Postbiotics represent a new language between microbes and our body — precise, stable, and biologically intelligent. And we are proud to be part of the emergence of a new generation of supplements that bring this approach into practice — with respect for nature, science, and the human body.