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world of biotics

Behind the word « biotics » are all the solutions developed to take care of your microbiota by helping you maintain its state of balance and promote good health. There are 3 main categories of “biotics”: prebiotics, probiotics and postbiotics.
To better understand what differentiates them from each other, let’s imagine for a moment that your microbiota is a field that needs to be taken care of.

What are the different biotics solutions?

Prebiotics = the substrate

A good substrate is essential to obtain a good culture. The plant needs a quality soil to get all the nutrients required for its development and growth. In the case of biotics, the prebiotics play this role. They are defined by the ISAPP (International Scientific Association for Probiotics and Prebiotics) as “a substrate that is selectively utilized by host microorganisms conferring a health benefit1“. In simpler terms, prebiotics are compounds such as plant fibers, that you are not able to digest2 but your microbiota is! The bacteria feed on them to produce compounds that happens to be beneficial to your health.

Probiotics = the seeds

Second key element for your field: the seeds. They are the heart of the culture, without them, not much happens, just like probiotics! The latter have been defined by the WHO as “live microorganisms that, when administered in adequate amounts, confer a health benefit on the host“3. In a nutshell, probiotics are friendly and helpful bacteria.

Postbiotics = the harvest

Finally, when comes harvesting, comes the time to collect the crops. You do not harvest the whole living plant but inanimate fragments, such as fruits that have interesting properties. It is exactly the same for postbiotics which are defined by the ISAPP as “A preparation of inanimate microorganisms and/or their components that confers a health benefit on the host“4. In other words, they are inanimate bacteria and/or fragments of them at have a positive impact on your health. You may also have come across the term “synbiotics“, which is almost confusing. But don’t worry, synbiotics are just a combination of prebiotics and probiotics. In other words, a package that contains both the fertilizer and the seeds!
biotics solutions

How to choose “biotics”?

Identification

To successfully choose the right “biotics”, it is first essential to learn how to identify them. Let’s try to see a little more clearly in the long and complex names of bacteria.

Bacteria are designated by three elements: the genus, the species, the strain. For instance: Lactobacillus delbrueckii LB-d.

Each strain has its own characteristics and effects on health, so they cannot be substituted. It is therefore essential to choose the right bacteria strain for your needs.

Characteristics

The second point to consider when choosing your biotics is the properties that make them effective. They must be demonstrated by science:

Viability:

  • To be effective, probiotic strains must remain viable during storage.
  • Thanks to their inanimate nature, the main advantage of postbiotic is the fact that they make it possible to get rid of these stability concerns. For instance, they are not temperature sensitive, so no need for cold storage!

Gastro-resistance:

  • Probiotic strains must arrive alive in the intestine. They must therefore be resistant enough to pass through the digestive tract and survive to the stomach pH without being killed.
  • On the contrary, in the same way as for stability, postbiotics are not alive. So, no need for them to be gastro-resistant!

Adhesion to the mucosa:

  • For both probiotics and postbiotics, the longer the interaction time with the intestinal mucosa, the more beneficial their effects will be. Their effectiveness therefore depends on their ability to adhere to the cells of the intestine.
If both probiotics and postbiotics have beneficial effects on health, postbiotics are more convenient thanks to their great stability. Moreover, they make it possible to bypass many constraints related to the living nature of probiotics.
KNOW MORE ABOUT POSTBIOTICS
As you can see, choosing quality biotics is essential and much more relevant than relying only on strains labeled quantity. Indeed, no link has been demonstrated between effectiveness and ingested dose.

Quality & Safety

To ensure the quality and good safety profile of “biotics”, a good traceability is essential. The quality is standardized to ensure the safety of consumers. Therefore, choose “biotics” manufactured by recognized companies, with high quality standards, which are regularly controlled by the competent authorities.

Safety is even at the heart of the definition of postbiotics. Indeed, to be able to market a postbiotic preparation, the manufacturer must provide a guarantee of safety for the user under the recommended conditions of use. They must provide a detailed description of the composition of their product.

1. INSERM, 2016
2. ISAPP, “Microbiome”, consulted on January 25th 2021 at: https://isappscience.org/for-scientists/resources/microbiome/
3. Hill C, Guarner F, Reid G, et al. Expert consensus document. The International Scientific Association for Probiotics and Prebiotics consensus statement on the scope and appropriate use of the term probiotic. Nat Rev Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2014;11(8):506-514. doi:10.1038/nrgastro.2014.66
4. Salminen, S., Collado, M.C., Endo, A. et al. The International Scientific Association of Probiotics and Prebiotics (ISAPP) consensus statement on the definition and scope of postbiotics. Nat Rev Gastroenterol Hepatol (2021). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41575-021-00440-6