Postbiotics: Multifunctional Microbial Products Transforming Animal Health and Performance.

2025-12-12
Veterinary sciences 12(12)
- Sahdeo Prasad
- Bhaumik Patel
- Prafulla Kumar
- Rajiv Lall

PubMed: 41472171
DOI: 10.3390/vetsci12121191

Study Design

Type: Review
Population: animals including poultry, swine, canine, feline, horses, and ruminant animals
Methods: This article outlines the beneficial effects of postbiotics in animals including poultry, swine, canine, feline, horses, and ruminant animals, either as feed/food or as a supplement.

Postbiotics, which are preparations of inanimate microorganisms and their components, have emerged as a promising functional ingredient in animal health and nutrition. Postbiotics are primarily composed of microbial cell fractions, metabolites, enzymes, vitamins, polysaccharides, and short-chain fatty acids. Unlike probiotics, postbiotics do not contain live microorganisms, which strengthens their greater stability and safety in feed/food formulations. Postbiotics offer several beneficial effects, including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, immune-modulatory, and antimicrobial actions. They enhance antioxidant enzymes, neutralize reactive oxygen species, and inhibit lipid peroxidation, thereby protecting tissues from oxidative damage. Postbiotics also inhibit pro-inflammatory molecules like TNF-α and IL-6, while enhancing the anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10, promoting the maturation and function of immune cells, and increasing secretory IgA production. They suppress a variety of pathogenic bacteria, including Escherichia coli, Salmonella, Staphylococcus, Campylobacter, etc., both in vitro and in vivo. Moreover, they increase beneficial gut bacteria and improve the digestion and integrity of the intestine. This article outlines the beneficial effects of postbiotics in animals including poultry, swine, canine, feline, horses, and ruminant animals, either as feed/food or as a supplement. The integration of postbiotics into animal feed improves growth performance, feed conversion ratios, and disease resistance in animals. Thus, the multifunctional benefits of postbiotics make them a valuable tool for healthy companion animals and sustainable livestock production, supporting both animal welfare and productivity without the drawbacks associated with antibiotic growth promoters.

Research Insights

Bifidobacterium plantarum→Improved Antioxidant Defense
They enhance antioxidant enzymes, neutralize reactive oxygen species, and inhibit lipid peroxidation, thereby protecting tissues from oxidative damage.
Effect
Beneficial
Effect size
Moderate
Bifidobacterium plantarum→Improved Gut Health
They increase beneficial gut bacteria and improve the digestion and integrity of the intestine.
Effect
Beneficial
Effect size
Moderate
Bifidobacterium plantarum→Improved Immune Function
They enhance antioxidant enzymes... promote the maturation and function of immune cells, and increasing secretory IgA production.
Effect
Beneficial
Effect size
Moderate
Bifidobacterium plantarum→Improved Oxidative Stress Resistance
They enhance antioxidant enzymes, neutralize reactive oxygen species, and inhibit lipid peroxidation, thereby protecting tissues from oxidative damage.
Effect
Beneficial
Effect size
Moderate
Bifidobacterium plantarum→Reduced Bacterial Load
They suppress a variety of pathogenic bacteria, including Escherichia coli, Salmonella, Staphylococcus, Campylobacter, etc., both in vitro and in vivo.
Effect
Beneficial
Effect size
Moderate
Bifidobacterium plantarum→Reduced Inflammation
They also inhibit pro-inflammatory molecules like TNF-α and IL-6, while enhancing the anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10.
Effect
Beneficial
Effect size
Moderate
Lactobacillus acidophilus L-92→Improved Gut Health
They increase beneficial gut bacteria and improve the digestion and integrity of the intestine.
Effect
Beneficial
Effect size
Moderate
Lactobacillus acidophilus L-92→Improved Immune Modulation
Postbiotics also inhibit pro-inflammatory molecules like TNF-α and IL-6, while enhancing the anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10, promoting the maturation and function of immune cells, and increasing secretory IgA production.
Effect
Beneficial
Effect size
Moderate
Lactobacillus acidophilus L-92→Reduced Bacterial Load
They suppress a variety of pathogenic bacteria, including Escherichia coli, Salmonella, Staphylococcus, Campylobacter, etc., both in vitro and in vivo.
Effect
Beneficial
Effect size
Moderate
Lactobacillus acidophilus L-92→Reduced Oxidative Stress
They enhance antioxidant enzymes, neutralize reactive oxygen species, and inhibit lipid peroxidation, thereby protecting tissues from oxidative damage
Effect
Beneficial
Effect size
Moderate
Lactobacillus rhamnosus→Enhanced Disease Resistance
The integration of postbiotics into animal feed improves growth performance, feed conversion ratios, and disease resistance in animals.
Effect
Beneficial
Effect size
Moderate
Lactobacillus rhamnosus→Improved Growth Performance
The integration of postbiotics into animal feed improves growth performance, feed conversion ratios, and disease resistance in animals
Effect
Beneficial
Effect size
Moderate
Lactobacillus rhamnosus→Improved Gut Health
They increase beneficial gut bacteria and improve the digestion and integrity of the intestine.
Effect
Beneficial
Effect size
Moderate
Saccharomyces cerevisiae→Enhanced Disease Resistance
The integration of postbiotics into animal feed improves growth performance, feed conversion ratios, and disease resistance in animals.
Effect
Beneficial
Effect size
Moderate
Saccharomyces cerevisiae→Improved Growth Performance
The integration of postbiotics into animal feed improves growth performance, feed conversion ratios, and disease resistance in animals
Effect
Beneficial
Effect size
Moderate
Saccharomyces cerevisiae→Improved Gut Health
They increase beneficial gut bacteria and improve the digestion and integrity of the intestine.
Effect
Beneficial
Effect size
Moderate
Saccharomyces cerevisiae→Improved Immune Function
They enhance antioxidant enzymes... promote the maturation and function of immune cells, and increasing secretory IgA production.
Effect
Beneficial
Effect size
Moderate
Saccharomyces cerevisiae→Improved Total Antioxidant Status
Postbiotics offer several beneficial effects, including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, immune-modulatory, and antimicrobial actions. They enhance antioxidant enzymes, neutralize reactive oxygen species, and inhibit lipid peroxidation, thereby protecting tissues from oxidative damage.
Effect
Beneficial
Effect size
Moderate
Saccharomyces cerevisiae→Reduced Bacterial Load
They suppress a variety of pathogenic bacteria, including Escherichia coli, Salmonella, Staphylococcus, Campylobacter, etc., both in vitro and in vivo.
Effect
Beneficial
Effect size
Moderate
Saccharomyces cerevisiae→Reduced Inflammation
They also inhibit pro-inflammatory molecules like TNF-α and IL-6, while enhancing the anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10.
Effect
Beneficial
Effect size
Moderate