Abstract:In 2021, the International Scientific Association for Probiotics and Prebiotics (ISAPP) issued a consensus statement defining postbiotics as a preparation of non-living microorganisms and/or their components promoting host health. Since then, the research on postbiotics has entered the upsurge. Compared with probiotics, the probiotic properties of postbiotics do not depend on strain activity, resulting in higher stability and safety, which make them more suitable for large-scale production and easier acceptance by consumers. This review summarizes postbiotics preparation technologies, mainly including thermal processing methods (pasteurization, sterilization, and ohmic heating) and non-thermal processing methods (pulse electric field, ultrasound, and ionizing radiation), and focuses on the probiotic effects of postbiotics in maintaining intestinal health, preventing obesity, preserving skin health, treating constipation, anti-diabetes, and improving oral health. This study aims to provide a reference for the future industrial production of postbiotics and clarify the mechanism of their probiotic effects.
