Postbiotics versus probiotics: Possible new allies for human health

Postbiotics, defined as “preparations of inanimate microorganisms and/or their components that confer a health benefit to the host,” are emerging as a new frontier in nutritional and clinical research. This review aims to summarize the current scientific literature on postbiotics administration, comparing the evidence associated with the use of live or inactivated forms of microorganisms. The administration of a probiotic or postbiotic should not be considered as mutually exclusive, but rather as interdependent approaches, that can be chosen based on the specific microorganism, the target population and its specific needs. In addition, we highlighted the potential of ‘omics approaches as an efficient tool for the screening of microbial strains to identify postbiotic genetic traits. Finally, we discussed the issues that still limit the broad diffusion of postbiotic products on the market. Indeed, we highlighted that there is certainly an urgent need for greater clarity and a specific regulation to encourage research and development in the postbiotic sector.