There is a lot of buzz around probiotics and their role in supporting immune health; however, new research is showing that postbiotics may hold the key to stronger immune health, better digestion, and faster recovery from illness.
What the Research Is Saying
A 2024 clinical trial explored how postbiotics could support recovery in stroke patients in intensive care, and the results were promising. Over seven days, patients who received postbiotics showed significantly lower levels of inflammation and oxidative stress. Key inflammation markers dropped, while antioxidant levels improved. The group also had fewer cases of pneumonia compared to those given a placebo. While there weren’t major shifts in stroke severity or overall gut microbiota diversity, researchers noted postbiotics may offer a safer, more stable alternative to probiotics, delivering beneficial compounds without the need for live bacteria. Although the study was short and didn’t track long-term outcomes, it adds to growing evidence that postbiotics could play an important role in reducing inflammation and supporting immune resilience, especially in vulnerable or critically ill patients.¹
Other studies are also showing that postbiotics can:
Help the immune system respond more effectively
Strengthen the gut lining, which acts as a barrier against harmful bacteria
Improve digestion and nutrient absorption
Support people with chronic conditions by reducing inflammation ² ³
What Makes Postbiotics Different?
One of the biggest benefits of postbiotics is their stability. Unlike probiotics, which contain live bacteria and often need refrigeration, postbiotics are heat-stable and shelf-stable. They don not require special storage and can stay effective for years, which makes them more practical for everyday use, especially in the Australian climate.
Postbiotics have properties that help to strengthen your immune health. Research has found they can regulate the production of T Cells and cytokines ³ ⁵, which help to reduce inflammation and promote the immune response. Studies have also shown that postbiotics can help to reduce the risk of respiratory infection and protect against the common cold.
They’re also ready for the body to start absorbing and putting them to work. Postbiotics include short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), peptides and organic acids. These compounds help support the gut lining, reduce inflammation, and can even improve how well the body absorbs certain nutrients and medications.⁴ As a recap, here is a summary of how all the biotics work to support your gut health:
Probiotics are live, gut-beneficial bacteria (or yeasts) that, when eaten in the right amounts, can help keep your gut healthy and support your overall health.
Prebiotics are types of fibre or nutrients that our bodies cannot digest, but the “good” bacteria in our gut can. When we eat prebiotics, these helpful bacteria use them as food, which helps them grow and keep our gut microbiome healthy.
Postbiotics are the beneficial compounds (metabolites) that are naturally produced when probiotics feed on prebiotics. These byproducts, such as short-chain fatty acids, enzymes and peptides, support your health by helping to regulate the immune system, reduce inflammation, and maintain the integrity of the gut lining. Unlike probiotics, postbiotics don’t need to survive the digestive tract to be effective, making them a stable and targeted way to support gut and whole-body health.
How P3 Gut Builder Fits In
If there’s one thing the latest research confirms, it’s that a resilient immune system starts in the gut. Emerging research shows that postbiotics are more than just a gut health trend; they are powerful compounds that play a direct role in immune regulation, gut lining strength, and recovery from inflammation. Unlike probiotics are stable, fast-acting, and packed with bioavailable compounds like short-chain fatty acids that help the immune system respond quickly and effectively.
P3 Gut Builder is a deliciously easy way to get your daily serving of postbiotics to give your gut and immune system the support they need to stay resilient, especially through the winter months. Each 15ml serving delivers a triple-action postbiotic boost that has been fermented with 8 strains of probiotics, 2 strains of postbiotics, plus 2 sources of prebiotics to help build a healthy balance in the gut microbiome.
Try P3 Gut Builder and put the latest in gut health science to work for your immune defence.
- Clinical trial of the effects of postbiotic supplementation on inflammation, oxidative stress, and clinical outcomes in patients with CVA (Nature, Oct 2024)
- Postbiotics in Human Health: A Narrative Review (Nutrients, Jan 2023)
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Postbiotics and their biotherapeutic potential for chronic disease and their feature perspective: a review (Frontiers in Microbiomes, March 2025)
- The International Scientific Association of Probiotics and Prebiotics (ISAPP) consensus statement on the definition and scope of postbiotics (Nature, May 2021)
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Modulation of Gut Microbiota and Immune System by Probiotics, Prebiotics, and Post-biotics, (Frontiers in Nutrition, Jan 2021)