The Science Behind Postbiotics: Fermentation By-products for Animal Gut Health
As we know probiotics refers to living organism, while postbiotics are defined as preparations of inanimate (inactivated/dead) microorganisms and/or their components that confer health benefits to the host. This concept has gained traction in the scientific community, particularly through the consensus established by the International Scientific Association for Probiotics and Prebiotics (ISAPP) in 2021.
Early Development:
1910-1970s: The journey began from with the study of beneficial microorganisms, notably lactobacilli and bifidobacteria, which were recognized for their positive effects on health, particularly in the gut microbiome. During this time, the terms "probiotics" and "prebiotics" emerged, focusing on live bacteria and their food sources, respectively.
1980s: Research postulated that viable bacteria and their products could offer health benefits. It became evident that not only live microbes but also their by-products and non-viable components could play a significant role in gut health and overall wellness.
Recognition of Postbiotics
2000s: The term "postbiotics" started to gain attraction in scientific literature. During this period, researchers began to distinguish between the health benefits attributed to live probiotics and those derived from their inactive forms and metabolic byproducts. This differentiation led to increased awareness of the therapeutic potential of postbiotics.
During this time the VEGA became the pioneer of PROBIOTICS in 2009 by commercially producing Clostridium butyricum and Bacillus strains.
2010s: Significant attention was given to postbiotics in both academic research and industry applications. Various studies indicated that postbiotics could boost immune responses, reduce inflammation, and improve gut barrier function. This period saw a increasing interest in developing postbiotic products for health and nutrition.
Scientific Validation of POSTBIOTICS
Postbiotics are being recognized as effective (exo) feed additives in animal nutrition due to their proven benefits in improving gut health, enhancing productivity, and reducing the need for antibiotics.
· A pivotal study by Yuan et al. (2021) in the Journal of Dairy Science highlighted that postbiotics containing short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) and bacteriocins can reduce heat stress in dairy cows, leading to improved milk yields and lower somatic cell counts.
· Wang et al., 2021, Animal Feed Science and Technology, reported Postbiotics containing short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) and microbial metabolites improved the balance of rumen microbiota in dairy cattle by increasing populations of beneficial bacteria such as Ruminococcus and Fibrobacter. This enhanced fiber digestion and volatile fatty acid (VFA) production.
· Postbiotic supplementation reduced the risk of sub-acute ruminal acidosis (SARA) in high-yielding dairy cows by stabilizing rumen pH. The SCFAs and bioactive peptides neutralized excess lactic acid production (Plaizier et al., Journal of Dairy Science, 2020).
Current Applications and Future Directions of VEGA-GROUP in POSTBIOTICS:
The Vega Group has shown considerable interest in developing postbiotic feed additive products for animal feed and farms to replace the use of antibiotics, reflecting the growing trend in the industry to find sustainable, non-antibiotic solutions for enhancing animal health. This approach involves integrating postbiotics into feed formulations to improve gut health, boost immunity, and enhance nutrient utilization in livestock. This aligns with broader industry efforts to reduce dependence on antibiotics while maintaining high standards of animal welfare and productivity.
According to Director of R&D of Vega-group, Yang et al., 2024 poultry science. Supplementation with postbiotics+postbiotics enhanced gut morphology, increased villus height-to-crypt depth ratio, and reduced harmful bacteria like Escherichia coli in broiler chickens. This combination is useful to replace the antibiotics and solve the issue of Antimicrobial resistance in all species of animals. In this regard R&D team of Vega introduced the CLOSTIDE product series to solve the issues of antibiotics use. Clostide series contains 2 billions of Bacillus Licheniformis (HJ0135) strain and Postbiotics.
It took 3 years to R&D team of vega to make systemic breakthrough in HJ0135 strain, which is multiply 20 times faster than normal strain of Bacillus Licheniformis and produce 20 times stronger antibacterial peptides. Incorporating the research results of probiotics for 20 years, Bacillus licheniformis -HJ0135 strain with super antibacterial performance was directionally bred. Through the unique directional fermentation culture and PCP protective concentration process, the maximum production and retention of antibacterial postbiotic were realized, and the super antibacterial effect was really exerted.
References:
Salminen, S., Collado, M.C., Endo, A. et al. The International Scientific Association of Probiotics and Prebiotics (ISAPP) consensus statement on the definition and scope of postbiotics. Nat Rev Gastroenterol Hepatol 18, 649–667 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41575-021-00440-6
Yang, Y., Chen, Y., Zhang, H., & Liu, J. (2024). Actiplantibacillus plantarum postbiotic protects against Salmonella infection in broilers via modulating NLRP3 inflammasome and gut microbiota. Poultry Science, 103(4), Article 103483. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psj.2024.103483
Yuan, X., Zhang, Y., Wang, H., & Chen, Y. Effects of postbiotic supplementation on nutrient digestibility and milk yield during the transition period in dairy cows. Journal of Dairy Science, 104(9), 10345-10358 (2021). https://doi.org/10.3168/jds.2021-00512
Wang, Y., Zhang, H., Li, X., & Liu, J. (2021). Postbiotics containing short-chain fatty acids and microbial metabolites improve the balance of rumen microbiota in dairy cattle by increasing populations of beneficial bacteria such as Ruminococcus and Fibrobacter. Animal Feed Science and Technology, 276, 114926. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.anifeedsci.2021.114926
Plaizier, J. C., Khafipour, E., Gozho, G. N., & McBride, B. W. (2020). Postbiotic supplementation reduced the risk of sub-acute ruminal acidosis (SARA) in high-yielding dairy cows by stabilizing rumen pH. The SCFAs and bioactive peptides neutralized excess lactic acid production. Journal of Dairy Science, 103(4), 3644-3655. https://doi.org/10.3168/jds.2019-16883
Author of the Article
Dr. Sikandar Ali
Technical Director (Overseas)
Vega Group China
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