Exploring the Potential of Postbiotics for Food Safety and Human Health Improvement

Folayemi Janet Isaac-Bamgboye, Chiamaka Linda Mgbechidinma, Helen Onyeaka, Ireoluwa Toluwalase Isaac-Bamgboye, Deborah C Chukwugozie

Research output: Contribution to journalReview articlepeer-review

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Abstract

Food safety is a global concern, with millions suffering from foodborne diseases annually. The World Health Organization (WHO) reports significant morbidity and mortality associated with contaminated food consumption, and this emphasizes the critical need for comprehensive food safety measures. Recent attention has turned to postbiotics, metabolic byproducts of probiotics, as potential agents for enhancing food safety. Postbiotics, including organic acids, enzymes, and bacteriocins, exhibit antimicrobial and antioxidant properties that do not require live organisms, and this offers advantages over probiotics. This literature review critically examines the role of postbiotics in gut microbiome modulation and applications in the food industry. Through an extensive review of existing literature, this study evaluates the impact of postbiotics on gut microbiome composition and their potential as functional food ingredients. Research indicates that postbiotics are effective in inhibiting food pathogens such as Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella enterica, and Escherichia coli, as well as their ability to prevent oxidative stress-related diseases, and they also show promise as alternatives to conventional food preservatives that can extend food shelf life by inhibiting harmful bacterial growth. Their application in functional foods contributes to improved gut health and reduced risk of foodborne illnesses. Findings suggest that postbiotics hold promise for improving health and preservation by inhibiting pathogenic bacteria growth and modulating immune responses.

Original languageEnglish
Article number1868161
Number of pages21
JournalJournal of nutrition and metabolism
Early online date6 Aug 2024
DOIs
Publication statusE-pub ahead of print - 6 Aug 2024

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Copyright © 2024 Folayemi Janet Isaac-Bamgboye et al.

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