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Postbiotics: An Overview and Recommendations for Improved Reporting
Mehreen Anjum1, Arthur C Ouwehand1
1IFF Health Sciences, Kantvik, Finland.
Molecular Nutrition & Food Research
|July 23, 2026
Summary
Postbiotics, nonviable microbial products offering health benefits, lack a clear definition. This review highlights inconsistencies in clinical study reporting, suggesting improvements for better understanding and application of these beneficial compounds.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Immunology
- Nutritional Science
Background:
- Postbiotics are nonviable microbial products or components conferring host health benefits.
- Current definitions are inconsistent, encompassing various forms like dead cells, lysates, and metabolites.
- Postbiotics offer advantages over probiotics in stability and shelf-life but have potential risks like allergenicity.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review current research reporting practices for postbiotics, focusing on clinical studies.
- To identify areas for improvement in the methodology and reporting of postbiotic research.
- To provide recommendations for standardized reporting to enhance clarity and reproducibility.
Main Methods:
- Systematic review of 101 clinical studies on postbiotics (excluding yeast β-glucan).
- Analysis of reporting practices regarding source organism, inactivation methods, administered quantities, and quality control.
- Examination of study designs, including single-strain vs. mixed-strain preparations and inactivation techniques.
Main Results:
- Significant variation exists in reported inactivation methods (heat treatment: 70-140°C, 4s-10h).
- Most studies utilized single-strain postbiotics; only 12 investigated mixed-strain or yogurt preparations.
- Inconsistent reporting of source organism taxonomy, inactivation details, administered dose, and quality control was observed.
Conclusions:
- Postbiotic research reporting is highly variable and requires standardization.
- Recommendations include precise source organism taxonomy, detailed inactivation methods, specified dosages, and quality control information.
- Improved reporting will facilitate better understanding, comparison, and application of postbiotics in health and nutrition.
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