According to a new report, the postbiotic supplements market is expected to reach a valuation of $30.5 million by 2034.
Given that the current valuation of the market is around $10.8 million, this represents a compound annual growth rate of 10.9% from 2024 to 2034.
While probiotics are well known, postbiotics are newer to the supplement scene. In this article, we’ll explore what they are, their potential benefits, and why they seem to be growing in popularity these days.
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What are postbiotics?
Postbiotics are the bioactive products of bacterial fermentation of prebiotics, including bacterial metabolites, SCFAs, microbial cell fractions, functional proteins, and extracellular polysaccharides.
While the research around postbiotics is still early, they show two potentially promising benefits:
- Improved gastrointestinal health. Studies have found that postbiotics may be effective at reducing inflammation in conditions like Inflammatory Bowel Disease and improving symptoms related to Irritable Bowel Syndrome. (1, 2)
- Immune support. Postbiotic supplementation has been shown to have immunoprotective qualities. Specifically, studies have found that it can reduce the rate of the common cold in elderly adults and offer symptom relief for those suffering from allergic diseases. (3, 4, 5)
Why are postbiotics becoming so popular?
While postbiotics are not as popular as probiotics, they’re starting to catch up for a variety of reasons:
- Better tolerated. Because probiotic supplements contain live bacteria and yeasts, there are some people who may not tolerate them well. Postbiotics, on the other hand, are inactivated, which may make them a more suitable alternative for people who don’t do well on probiotics. (6)
- Longer shelf life. Postbiotics may offer better value due to their extended shelf life. Since probiotics have to be alive to work, they require refrigeration. Postbiotics, on the other hand, do not, giving them greater shelf stability.
- Increasing need. According to the postbiotics report: “The need for postbiotic supplements is expected to grow in the coming years due to the increasing incidence of certain digestive disorders, such as inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Among the anticipated IBDs, ulcerative colitis or Crohn's disease is expected to play a significant role in driving the demand for postbiotic supplements.”
The future of postbiotics
Given these factors, what does this mean for the future of postbiotics?
While the postbiotics market is growing rapidly, it still has a long way to go compared to the probiotics dietary supplements market — which was valued at $18.04 billion as of 2022.
However, the rise of postbiotics is a trend in the right direction because it gives people more options when it comes to choosing supplements to improve their digestive and immune health.
As awareness of postbiotics increases, we can expect more investment in research around their effects and potential benefits.
Key Takeaways:
- The postbiotic supplements market is expected to reach a valuation of $30.5 million by 2034.
- Early studies show that postbiotic supplementation may improve gastrointestinal and immune health.
- While postbiotics are on the rise, they still have a long way to go to catch up with probiotics.
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References
- Parada Venegas, D., De la Fuente, M. K., Landskron, G., González, M. J., Quera, R., Dijkstra, G., Harmsen, H. J. M., Faber, K. N., & Hermoso, M. A. (2019). Short Chain Fatty Acids (SCFAs)-Mediated Gut Epithelial and Immune Regulation and Its Relevance for Inflammatory Bowel Diseases. Frontiers in Immunology, 10(277). https://doi.org/10.3389/fimmu.2019.00277
- Banasiewicz, T., Krokowicz, Ł., Stojcev, Z., Kaczmarek, B. F., Kaczmarek, E., Maik, J., Marciniak, R., Krokowicz, P., Walkowiak, J., & Drews, M. (2013). Microencapsulated sodium butyrate reduces the frequency of abdominal pain in patients with irritable bowel syndrome. Colorectal Disease, 15(2), 204–209. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1463-1318.2012.03152.x
- Shinkai, S., Toba, M., Saito, T., Sato, I., Tsubouchi, M., Taira, K., Kakumoto, K., Inamatsu, T., Yoshida, H., Fujiwara, Y., Fukaya, T., Matsumoto, T., Tateda, K., Yamaguchi, K., Kohda, N., & Kohno, S. (2012). Immunoprotective effects of oral intake of heat-killed Lactobacillus pentosus strain b240 in elderly adults: a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. British Journal of Nutrition, 109(10), 1856–1865. https://doi.org/10.1017/s0007114512003753
- Koatz, A. M., Coe, N. A., Cicerán, A., & Alter, A. J. (2016). Clinical and Immunological Benefits of OM-85 Bacterial Lysate in Patients with Allergic Rhinitis, Asthma, and COPD and Recurrent Respiratory Infections. Lung, 194(4), 687–697. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00408-016-9880-5
- Bodemer, C., Guillet, G., Cambazard, F., Boralevi, F., Ballarini, S., Milliet, C., Bertuccio, P., La Vecchia, C., Bach, J.-F., & de Prost, Y. (2017). Adjuvant treatment with the bacterial lysate (OM-85) improves management of atopic dermatitis: A randomized study. PloS One, 12(3), e0161555. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0161555
- Wegh, Geerlings, Knol, Roeselers, & Belzer. (2019). Postbiotics and Their Potential Applications in Early Life Nutrition and Beyond. International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 20(19), 4673. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms20194673
