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Review
. 2024 Aug 2;12(8):1582.
doi: 10.3390/microorganisms12081582.

Pre- to Postbiotics: The Beneficial Roles of Pediatric Dysbiosis Associated with Inflammatory Bowel Diseases

Roberta Ottria  1 , Ornella Xynomilakis  1 , Silvana Casati  1 , Pierangela Ciuffreda  1
Affiliations
Review

Pre- to Postbiotics: The Beneficial Roles of Pediatric Dysbiosis Associated with Inflammatory Bowel Diseases

Roberta Ottria et al. Microorganisms. .

Abstract

Probiotics are "live microorganisms which, when administered in adequate amount, confer health benefits on the host". They can be found in certain foods like yogurt and kefir and in dietary supplements. The introduction of bacterial derivatives has not only contributed to disease control but has also exhibited promising outcomes, such as improved survival rates, immune enhancement, and growth promotion effects. It is interesting to note that the efficacy of probiotics goes beyond the viability of the bacteria, giving rise to concepts like paraprobiotics, non-viable forms of probiotics, and postbiotics. Paraprobiotics offer various health benefits in children with intestinal dysbiosis, contributing to improved digestive health, immune function, and overall well-being. In this review, the potential of these therapeutic applications as alternatives to pharmacological agents for treating pediatric intestinal dysbiosis will be thoroughly evaluated. This includes an analysis of their efficacy, safety, long-term benefits, and their ability to restore gut microbiota balance, improve digestive health, enhance immune function, and reduce inflammation. The aim is to determine if these non-pharmacological interventions can effectively and safely manage intestinal dysbiosis in children, reducing the need for conventional medications and their side effects.

Keywords: dysbiosis; gut microbiota; infant; paraprobiotics; postbiotic; prebiotics; probiotics; synbiotics.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Factors causing alteration to gut microbiota.
Figure 2
Figure 2
From in utero to post-natal life: factors that have been shown to affect the establishment of the gut microbiota.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Change in gut microbiota with aging: dominant bacterial species found in human intestines during different stages of growth, from infancy to adolescence.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Principal keywords used for the literature search.
Figure 5
Figure 5
Characteristics of an ideal probiotic strain [76]. GRAS = Generally Recognized as Safe.
Figure 6
Figure 6
Conceptualization of paraprobiotics and postbiotics [109].
Figure 7
Figure 7
Short-chain fatty acids and tryptophan metabolites.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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