Prebiotics vs Probiotics vs Postbiotics - A Simple Definitive Guide

Postbiotics is a topic that requires multiple layers of explanation and discussion. In this post, we’ll start with a basic overview of the 3 big key words used revolving around this topic.

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The Impact of Gut Health

This topic is so important for vibrant long-term health because it is believed that about 70% of immune health originates in your gut. (1)

Not only is a healthy gut extremely important for immune health, but more in-depth studies are demonstrating gut health has a massive impact on mental health as well.  This is called the gut-brain axis. (2)

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What are Postbiotics?

Postbiotics have been around as long as probiotics. In fact, your gut flora has been producing them every day and many foods you consume including yogurt, sauerkraut, kimchi, kombucha, etc. all contain postbiotics. 

So why aren’t postbiotics more popular and why is information about these amazing compounds so limited? The simple answer is: I don’t really don’t know, but I’m certain you will be hearing the term more and more in the near future. 

While many areas of the world have already embraced this science, including small niches of the U.S., it is still only a small amount of the conversation in regards to gut and immune health.  The same held true for probiotics 25 years ago. Now, almost everybody is at least somewhat familiar with probiotics!

Let’s start with a short overview of what prebiotics, probiotics and postbiotics are and their differences.

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PREBIOTICS

Prebiotics are simply carbohydrate food sources that are typically specific to probiotics. 

Prebiotics are mostly undigestible by the body and need bacteria to consume them or they will pass right thru your digestive tract like any fiber. Common examples of prebiotics include inulin, fructooligosaccharides (FOS), and xylooligosaccharides (XOS).

While these ingredients are a great food source for bacteria, they often wreak havoc on your pet’s digestive system. Since these ingredients are undigestible by the pet, they can often cause bloating, gas, and diarrhea.  Great care should be taken with doses of these types of ingredients.

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PROBIOTICS

Probiotics are the healthy bacteria that make up a gut flora, otherwise known as the microbiome.   

There are so many species that science doesn’t even know about all of them or their functions. This network is complex; it will take many more years of research to get a true understanding of it all. 

Microbiomes of cats and dogs are made up of trillions of bacteria. Of those bacteria, there are thousands of known phylotypes. (3) Unfortunately, commercially we only see up to 40-50 specie strains available. That is not even close to making up the diversity that truly exists. We know dosing probiotics is helpful at supporting many issues, but why?

The answer lies in our next section…

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POSTBIOTICS 

This leads us to postbiotics. Postbiotics make up a vast list of compounds that come from probiotics. 

One type of postbiotic is dead probiotic cells and fragments which stimulate positive immune response. This type of postbiotic is typically referred to as tyndallized probiotics.

Another type of postbiotic is all the metabolites produced during a bacteria’s life cycle. Some of these metabolites are immune stimulants, short chain fatty acids such as butyrate and propionate, vitamins, peptides, antimicrobials, and others that we will cover in more detail in our next post. (4).

Now that we’ve provided a general overview of what Prebiotics, Probiotics and Postbiotics are and how to differentiate between them, stay tuned for our next article where we will dive deep into the world of Postbiotics and their health benefits!

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Article References:

1. If you want to boost immunity, look to the gut - Sandy Cohen • UCLA Health, March 19, 2021 

2. Pay attention to your gut-brain connection-It may contribute to your anxiety and digestion problems

   Harvard Health Publishing-Harvard Medical School, April 19, 2021

3. Intestinal Microbiota of Dogs and Cats: a Bigger World than We Thought - Jan S. Suchodolski, Med Vet, Dr Med Vet, PhD

   Vet Clin North Am Small Anim Pract. 2011 Mar; 41(2): 261–272. Published online 2011 Apr 12. doi: 10.1016/j.cvsm.2010.12.006

4. Health Benefits of Heat-Killed (Tyndallized) Probiotics: An Overview

   Int J Mol Sci. 2019 May; 20(10): 2534. Published online 2019 May 23. doi: 10.3390/ijms20102534

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