Research progress and potential mechanism of postbiotics in alleviating gastrointestinal diseases

Abstract:

The gastrointestinal tract is one of the most metabolically active organs and the largest reservoir of bacteria in the human body. The human gastrointestinal tract contains rich microbiota, which has a complex relationship with the host health. The gut microbiota is in a dynamic equilibrium, the disturbance of which can cause gastrointestinal diseases such as constipation, diarrhea, irritable bowel syndrome, inflammatory bowel disease, and colorectal cancer. In recent years, there have been increasing studies on postbiotics. The protective effect of postbiotics on intestinal barrier is similar or even superior to that of probiotics. We reviewed the studies of postbiotics in animal experiments and clinical studies in alleviating gastrointestinal diseases and summarized the role and mechanisms of postbiotics in enhancing the epithelial barrier and regulating the immune system, gut microbiota, and nervous system.