Postbiotics as Emerging Strategy Targeting Obesity- and Aging-Related Breast Cancer—Prospects in Prophylaxis and Therapy
Abstract
1. Introduction
2. Aging and Obesity as Breast Cancer Risk Factors
2.1. Breast Cancer and Aging
2.2. Breast Cancer and Obesity
3. Postbiotic Biology and Bioactivity
4. Anti-Senescent and Anti-Obesity Potential of Postbiotics in Context of Breast Cancer Prevention and Treatment
4.1. Anti-Senescent Potential of Postbiotics
4.2. Anti-Obesity Activity of Postbiotics
5. Multifaceted Potential of Postbiotics in Supportive Therapy of Breast Cancer and Alleviation of Side Effects
5.1. Preclinical Evidence
5.2. Current Clinical Evidence in Oncology and Translational Gaps
6. Conclusions—Perspectives and Limitations
Author Contributions
Funding
Institutional Review Board Statement
Informed Consent Statement
Data Availability Statement
Acknowledgments
Conflicts of Interest
References
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| Postbiotic Compound | Microbial Sources | Molecular Targets | Anticancer Mechanism |
|---|---|---|---|
| Short fatty acids (e.g., butyrate, propionate, acetate) | L. plantarum L. acidophilus | HDAC, AMPK | Inhibition of histone deacetylases (HDACs), which leads to changes in gene expression that promote cell cycle arrest, differentiation, and apoptosis in cancer cells [109,110] |
| Bacteriocins (nisin) | LactococcusLactis | Cell membrane | Disrupting cell membranes and triggering programmed cell death in cancer cells [111] |
| Enzymes (catalase) | L. plantarum L. acidophilus | Reactive oxygen species (ROS) | Enhancing antioxidant capacity by reducing H2O2 levels and mitigating ROS induced intestinal damage [112] |
| Exopolysaccharides | L. plantarum L. crispatus | Immune receptors | Activation of immune cells and Toll-like receptor signaling [113] |
| Peptidoglycans | L. paracasei | Immune receptors | Reduction in intestinal inflammation and maintenance gut homeostasis [114] |
| Trial No | Title | Interventions | Conditions |
|---|---|---|---|
| NCT06795425 | A Randomized, Double-Blind Study to Assess the Effect of a Postbiotic on Oxidative Stress and Exercise Performance | Dietary Supplement: Postbiotic active lifestyle blend | Oxidative stress |
| NCT03378765 | Gut Microbiota, Short Chain Fatty Acids, and Adiposity Across The Epidemiological Transition | Behavioral: Diet and physical activity monitoring | Obesity, Diabetes |
| NCT06911073 | A Study to Evaluate a Postbiotic in Supporting Weight Loss and Metabolic Health | Dietary Supplement: Postbiotic | Obesity and Overweight |
| NCT04879914 | Analysis of Microbiota Changes Induced by Microencapsulated Sodium Butyrate in Patients With Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBDMicro) | Dietary Supplement: Butyrate | Inflammatory bowel diseases Irritable Bowel Syndrome |
| NCT05420805 | Protective Role of Pre-/Post-biotics on Gut Inflammation, Dysbiosis, and Life Quality in Rett Syndrome (Biotics_RTT) | Dietary Supplement: ALAC, inulin, FOS, and sodium butyrate | Rett Syndrome, Dysbiosis, Epilepsy |
| Trial No | Title | Interventions | Conditions |
|---|---|---|---|
| NCT06097468 | Nisin in Oral Cavity Squamous Cell Carcinoma (OCSCC) | Drug: NisinZ® P | Oral Cavity Squamous Cell Carcinoma |
| NCT05736315 | Use of a Fermented Dairy Beverage in Cervical Cancer Patients Undergoing Concurrent Chemoradiation Therapy | Other: Placebo dairy beverage | Cervical Cancer, Stage IIB |
| NCT06475807 | Dietary Interventions in Cancer Patients Treated With Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors | Dietary Supplement: High-fermented food Dietary Supplement: High fiber supplementation | Cancer |
| NCT03177681 | Fermented Milk Supplementation on Symptoms of Disease and Treatment in Patients With Multiple Myeloma | Dietary Supplement: Kefir | Plasma Cell Myeloma |
| NCT06517420 | Effect of Kefir on Symptom Management and Quality of Life in Oncology | Other: kefir consumption | Breast Cancer Colorectal Cancer |
| NCT04795180 | Pilot Randomized Evaluation of Butyrate Irrigation Before Ileostomy Closure on the Colonic Mucosa in Rectal Cancer Patients (BUTYCLO) | Drug: Butyrate irrigations trough the efferent limb of loop ileostomy | Rectal Cancer |
| NCT07268846 | Use of Preoperative Postbiotic Supplementation in Colorectal Cancer Surgery | Dietary Supplement: Postbiotic | Cancer (Colon Cancer, Breast Cancer, Lymphoma, Chronic Lymphoma Leukemia, Multiple Myeloma) |
| NCT00006340 | Ganciclovir Plus Arginine Butyrate in Treating Patients With Cancer or Lymphoproliferative Disorders Associated With the Epstein Barr Virus | Drug: Arginine butyrate Drug: ganciclovir | Leukemia Lymphoma Precancerous Condition |
| NCT00917826 | Study of Arginine Butyrate and Ganciclovir/Valganciclovir in EBV(+) Lymphoid Malignancies | Drug: Arginine Butyrate Drug: Ganciclovir Drug: Valganciclovir | EBV Lymphomas Lympho-Proliferative Diseases |
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Wasiak, J.; Oszajca, K.A.; Szemraj, J.; Witusik-Perkowska, M. Postbiotics as Emerging Strategy Targeting Obesity- and Aging-Related Breast Cancer—Prospects in Prophylaxis and Therapy. Life 2026, 16, 628. https://doi.org/10.3390/life16040628
Wasiak J, Oszajca KA, Szemraj J, Witusik-Perkowska M. Postbiotics as Emerging Strategy Targeting Obesity- and Aging-Related Breast Cancer—Prospects in Prophylaxis and Therapy. Life. 2026; 16(4):628. https://doi.org/10.3390/life16040628
Chicago/Turabian StyleWasiak, Joanna, Katarzyna Anna Oszajca, Janusz Szemraj, and Monika Witusik-Perkowska. 2026. "Postbiotics as Emerging Strategy Targeting Obesity- and Aging-Related Breast Cancer—Prospects in Prophylaxis and Therapy" Life 16, no. 4: 628. https://doi.org/10.3390/life16040628
APA StyleWasiak, J., Oszajca, K. A., Szemraj, J., & Witusik-Perkowska, M. (2026). Postbiotics as Emerging Strategy Targeting Obesity- and Aging-Related Breast Cancer—Prospects in Prophylaxis and Therapy. Life, 16(4), 628. https://doi.org/10.3390/life16040628

