Gut health is increasingly recognized as the foundation of overall health. A Book written by Lilis Nuraida, Hendry Noer Fadlillah, Fenny Amilia Mahara and Uswatun Hasanah (2025) provides a comprehensive understanding about how the probiotics, prebiotics, synbiotics and postbiotics maintain gut health and contribute to a healthy body.
The book explains four key concepts:
1. Probiotics: live microorganisms that provide health benefits when consumed in adequate amounts. They can improve microbiota in the digestive tract, improve immunity and prevent diarrhea. Mechanisms: strengthen the barrier function of the digestive tract, produce antimicrobial compounds and modulate the immune response (Al-Habsi et al, 2024).
2. Prebiotics: non-digestible food components (mainly dietary fibers) that support the growth of beneficial gut bacteria. They can improve digestive health, digestion and reduce inflammation. Mechanisms: support the growth of beneficial bacteria and improve the digestive tract microbiota composition (Al-Habsi et al, 2024).
3. Synbiotics: a combination of probiotics and prebiotics that work synergistically. They support and improve probiotic resistance and improve digestive tract health. Mechanisms: improve microbiota diversity, enhance nutrient absorption, and have synergistic effects between probiotics and prebiotics (Al-Habsi et al, 2024).
4. Postbiotics: metabolic byproducts of probiotics (Al-Habsi et al, 2024); preparation of non-living microorganisms with or without cell components that may contain metabolites of microorganisms (Salminen et al, 2021). Mechanisms: They improve microbiota composition, reduce gut inflammation and enhance antioxidant activity. (Al Habsi et al, 2024); Five mechanisms of postbiotics: (1) modulate microbiota resident, (2) strengthen barrier function, (3) modulate systemic immune response, (4) modulate systemic metabolic response and (5) systemic signaling via neuron system (Salminen et al, 2021).
Together, these components play a crucial role in maintaining gut microbiota balance, which influences immunity, digestion, and even mental health.
Why Are They Important for Health?
The book highlights that an imbalance in gut microbiota may contribute to various health issues, including digestive disorders, obesity, and weakened immune function. By consuming the right types of foods—such as yogurt, tempeh, high-fiber foods, and other fermented products—this balance can be supported and maintained.
Relevance to Modern Diets
In today’s lifestyle, which often includes high sugar, high fat, and ultra-processed foods, the intake of probiotics and prebiotics is frequently overlooked. This book serves as a valuable guide for academics, health practitioners, and the general public to better understand how functional foods can be part of a preventive health strategy.
Conclusion
This book not only provides a strong scientific foundation but also offers insight into the vast potential of functional foods in improving quality of life. For those who care about family health, understanding probiotics through postbiotics is a meaningful step toward a healthier lifestyle.
References:
Al Habsyi N, Al Khalili M, Haque SA, Elias M, Al OLqi N, Al Uraimi `T. 2024. Health Benefits of prebiotics, probiotics, synbiotics and postbiotics. Nutrients 16(22): 3955. DOI:10.3390/nu16223955.
Nuraida, L., Fadlillah, H.N., Mahara, F. A. 2025. Probiotik, Prebiotik, Sinbiotik, dan Posbiotik: Pengembangan dan Manfaat Kesehatan. IPB Press.
Salminen, S., Collado, M. C., Endo, A., Hill, C., Lebeer, S., Quigley, E. M. M., Sanders, M. E., Shamir, R., Swann, J. R., Szajewska, H., & Vinderola, G. 2021. The International Scientific Association of Probiotics and Prebiotics (ISAPP) consensus statement on the definition and scope of postbiotics. Nature reviews. Gastroenterology & hepatology, 18(9), 649–667. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41575-021-00440-6