PROBIOTICS, PREBIOTICS, AND POSTBIOTICS: A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW OF THEIR ROLE IN GUT HEALTH AND CHRONIC DISEASE PREVENTION

Abstract

This systematic review examines the roles of probiotics, prebiotics, and postbiotics in promoting gut health and preventing chronic diseases. The human gut microbiota, composed of trillions of microorganisms, plays a pivotal role in digestion, immune response, and metabolism. Dysbiosis, or the imbalance of gut microbiota, is linked to several chronic conditions, including inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), obesity, type 2 diabetes, and cardiovascular diseases. Probiotics, prebiotics, and postbiotics have emerged as effective therapeutic tools to restore gut health. Probiotics introduce live microorganisms that enhance microbial balance and immune function. Prebiotics,h non-digestible food components, stimulate the growth of beneficial microbes and improve gut barrier function. Postbiotics, bioactive compounds produced by microbes during fermentation, exert anti-inflammatory, immune-modulatory, and antimicrobial effects. The combined use of these biotics, known as synbiotics, provides synergistic benefits, improving gut microbiota composition, enhancing immune responses, and preventing chronic diseases. However, variability in interventions, strains, dosages, and clinical outcomes highlights the need for further research, particularly regarding long-term impacts, personalized interventions, and regulatory standards.