Dr. Federico Podversich: Probiotics vs. Postbiotics | Ep. 62
The Feed Science Podcast Show
Understanding Probiotics, Postbiotics, and Prebiotics in Animal Nutrition
Postbiotics are inanimate, dehydrated, and preserved microbial cultures that no longer exhibit growth capability, while probiotics contain live microorganisms that must be maintained under specific conditions to remain viable. Both probiotics and postbiotics can provide significant benefits in animal nutrition, as some studies demonstrate that they yield similar responses when administered to ruminants due to the effects of secondary metabolites and cellular components. Therefore, whether live or dead, both can be effective, emphasizing the necessity for research to substantiate their claims. Prebiotics, in contrast, are substrates that support the growth of host microorganisms in the gastrointestinal tract, such as fibers or sugars. The distinction becomes complex, as certain postbiotics and probiotics can also exert prebiotic effects by supplying useful molecules for microbial utilization. Specifically, yeast and aspergillus cultures serve as postbiotics while simultaneously possessing prebiotic properties due to their substrate content.
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