Future of postbiotics: Are consumers ready for the next biotic innovation?

As consumers become more health conscious, the demand for products that support digestive health has increased.​

This shift has opened up new avenues for innovation within the biotics market, presenting opportunities for formulators looking to differentiate themselves in the marketplace.

Formulators and brands can harness these opportunities by developing products that not only address digestive health but also offer additional functional benefits, such as immune support and anti-inflammatory properties.

Prebiotics, probiotics and postbiotics all play a vital role in supporting health. Prebiotics are non-digestible substances that promote the growth or activity of certain beneficial bacteria in the gut. The effect of prebiotics lies in their ability to foster a gut environment that supports health-promoting microorganisms.¹​

Many food products and supplements contain live microorganisms, but only those containing characterized strains with a scientifically demonstrated effect on health may be termed ‘probiotic’.²​ Probiotics provide additional beneficial bacteria to the populations already present and help restore the natural balance of bacteria in the gut.

Unlike probiotics, postbiotics are not live microorganisms; instead, they act as bioactive compounds. Postbiotics are deliberately inactivated microbial cells, with or without metabolites or cell components, that contribute to demonstrated health benefits.

Their non-living nature gives them unique advantages, particularly in terms of stability and practicality, making them an increasingly valuable component in the biotics space. They have been shown to support various health benefits, including immune modulation, anti-inflammatory properties, and overall improved gut health.

In a 2022 survey by FMCG Gurus, consumers who had previously heard of postbiotics were asked what benefits they associated with postbiotics.³​

The results found that 73% of consumers associate postbiotics with improved immune health and 72% associate them with aiding digestive health. Further associated benefits included cognitive health (42%), heart health (38%), sleep and mental wellbeing (36%), improved absorption of nutrients (32%) and development support for children (26%).

Thanks to growing consumer awareness of the multifaceted benefits of postbiotics, and their high stability profile in manufacturing, the market is growing.

Postbiotics: Benefits for manufacturers​

Postbiotics offer several advantages for manufacturers, and a significant benefit is their high stability. Unlike probiotics, which are sensitive to environmental factors such as temperature, humidity and shelf life, postbiotics are more resilient. Because postbiotics are inanimate substances, their stable condition ensures that any positive effects last from the point of production to the moment of consumption, regardless of external conditions. Thanks to their stability, postbiotics offer versatility in formulation and product development, allowing them to be integrated into a wide variety of products and formats, including dietary supplements, functional foods and beverages, without compromising their efficacy.

Another advantage of postbiotics is ease of standardisation. Since postbiotics are non-living, their composition can be controlled and replicated with high precision. Manufacturers can also produce batches with consistent quality and efficacy, ensuring that consumers receive the same effects with every dose – a crucial component for maintaining consumer trust.

Innovation in postbiotics​

dsm-firmenich – innovators in the nutrition, health, and beauty space – has introduced a postbiotic solution, Humiome® Post LB. More studies are underway, providing data to support the variety of benefits Humiome® Post LB provides – particularly for digestive and immune health.

This product integrates a proprietary blend of two specific bacterial strains – Lactobacillus delbrueckii​ (CNCM I-4831) and Lactobacillus fermentum​ (CNCM I-2998), together known as Lactobacillus LB​ – along with their fermented culture medium and active metabolites. Supported by over 40 scientific studies, Humiome® Post LB stands out for its effectiveness and reliability.

The quality of Humiome® Post LB is ensured through a proprietary ECHO fermentation process. This technique enriches, concentrates, and heat-stabilises the microorganisms, resulting in a highly stable product. The process also ensures consistency across batches, providing manufacturers and consumers with a dependable postbiotic product.

Humiome® Post LB delivers 60 billion inactivated bacteria per gram of powder, with a daily recommended dose of 340 mg. With no risk of bacterial translocation or antibiotic resistance, the postbiotic has a good safety profile. It also complies with self-GRAS (Generally Recognized As Safe) and QPS (Qualified Presumption of Safety) statutes, reassuring manufacturers that it is a safe and reliable choice for consumers.

Stability is another key feature of Humiome® Post LB. The postbiotic is designed to withstand harsh manufacturing and drying processes, and it can be stored without the need for refrigeration, simplifying logistics and reducing costs. Its powder form is highly versatile, making it suitable for inclusion in a wide range of dietary supplements, foods and beverages.

The recognition and widespread use of Lactobacillus LB​ across nearly 40 countries further attests to its efficacy and reliability. The strain is also cited in the International Scientific Association for Probiotics and Prebiotics (ISAPP) publications, underscoring its credibility.

Unlocking new possibilities ​

In the upcoming webinar, ‘Postbiotics: Unlock a new world of possibilities​’​ on Thursday, September 19th​, dsm-firmenich’s experts and guests will uncover how postbiotics can advance gut health and explore how biotics are becoming a key area of innovation in functional foods and nutraceuticals.

The discussion will cover the unique stability and ease of standardisation that postbiotics offer, alongside versatility in formulation. The webinar will also introduce Humiome® Post LB, present pre-clinical and clinical data, and highlight dsm-firmenich’s capabilities in the postbiotic and microbiome space.

Register here for ​Postbiotics: Unlock a new world of possibilities​​.​

References​

1. ​Slavin J. Fiber and prebiotics: mechanisms and health benefits​. Nutrients. 2013 Apr 22;5(4):1417-35.
2.​ International Scientific Association for Probiotics and Prebiotics (ISAAP)​.
3.​ FMCG Gurus. Prebiotics, Probiotics & Postbiotics – Global Report​. September 2022.