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Probiotics, Postbiotics, Gut Microbiota and Gastrointestinal Health

A special issue of Nutrients (ISSN 2072-6643). This special issue belongs to the section "Prebiotics and Probiotics".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 20 January 2026 | Viewed by 575

Special Issue Editor


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Guest Editor
Key Laboratory of Dairy Science, Ministry of Education, Food College, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin, China
Interests: lactic acid bacteria taxonomy; probiotic metabolism and fermentation engineering; probiotics and intestinal microecology regulation; stabilization and delivery system for probiotics
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The human gastrointestinal tract contains a complex microbial ecosystem that plays a key role in maintaining host health through dynamic interactions with metabolic, immune, and neurological systems. Disruptions in this delicate balance, termed dysbiosis, are increasingly linked to inflammatory bowel diseases, functional GI disorders, obesity, and even extra-intestinal conditions such as nervous system and autoimmune diseases. Emerging research highlights the critical contributions of probiotics and postbiotics in modulating gut microbiota composition and function, thereby influencing gastrointestinal homeostasis. As live microorganisms, probiotics act through multifaceted mechanisms, including enhancing mucosal barrier function via tight junction protein modulation, the competitive exclusion of pathogens, and the production of bioactive metabolites. Postbiotics, in contrast, exert immunomodulatory and anti-inflammatory effects independent of microbial viability. Crucially, probiotics and postbiotics both have the ability to shape gut microbiota ecology by enriching commensal taxa.

We are pleased to invite you to contribute works with cutting-edge methodologies, including multi-omics integration, synthetic biology, and microbiota engineering, to unravel causal relationships between microbial communities and host physiology. This Special Issue aims to explore the molecular mechanisms underlying probiotic–host interactions, the therapeutic potential of postbiotics, and innovative strategies with which to restore gut microbiota balance in disease states. We aspire to synthesize different insights in order to utilize microbial resources for combating gastrointestinal disorders globally and foster the development of next-generation biotherapeutics. In this Special Issue, original research articles and reviews are welcome. Research areas may include (but are not limited to) the following:

  • Molecular cross-talk mechanisms governing probiotic–host interactions.
  • Emerging therapeutic applications of postbiotic metabolites.
  • Novel intervention strategies for gut microbiota modulation in pathological conditions.

I look forward to receiving your contributions.

Prof. Dr. Fei Liu
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

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Keywords

  • postbiotics
  • gut microbiota
  • gastrointestinal health
  • gastrointestinal homeostasis
  • fermented foods
  • synthetic biology

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Published Papers (1 paper)

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Research

21 pages, 506 KiB  
Article
Fermented Milk Supplemented with Sodium Butyrate and Inulin: Physicochemical Characterization and Probiotic Viability Under In Vitro Simulated Gastrointestinal Digestion
by Katarzyna Szajnar, Małgorzata Pawlos, Magdalena Kowalczyk, Julita Drobniak and Agata Znamirowska-Piotrowska
Nutrients 2025, 17(13), 2249; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu17132249 - 7 Jul 2025
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Abstract
Background/Objectives: Probiotics are increasingly recognized for their role in managing gastrointestinal disorders through modulation of gut microbiota. Restoring microbial balance remains a therapeutic challenge. Recent strategies combine probiotics, inulin, and sodium butyrate as synergistic agents for gut health. This study aimed to evaluate [...] Read more.
Background/Objectives: Probiotics are increasingly recognized for their role in managing gastrointestinal disorders through modulation of gut microbiota. Restoring microbial balance remains a therapeutic challenge. Recent strategies combine probiotics, inulin, and sodium butyrate as synergistic agents for gut health. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of milk supplementation with inulin and sodium butyrate on physicochemical properties, sensory characteristics, and the survival of selected probiotic strains during in vitro simulated gastrointestinal digestion. Methods: Fermented milk samples were analyzed for color, pH, titratable acidity, and syneresis. A trained sensory panel evaluated aroma, texture, and acceptability. Samples underwent a standardized in vitro digestion simulating oral, gastric, and intestinal phases. Viable probiotic cells were counted before digestion and at each stage, and survival rates were calculated. Results: Physicochemical and sensory attributes varied depending on probiotic strain and supplementation. Inulin and the inulin–sodium butyrate combination influenced syneresis and acidity. Lacticaseibacillus casei 431 and Lactobacillus johnsonii LJ samples showed the highest viable counts before digestion. Two-way ANOVA confirmed that probiotic strain, supplementation type, and their interactions significantly affected bacterial survival during digestion (p < 0.05). Conclusions: The addition of inulin and sodium butyrate did not impair probiotic viability under simulated gastrointestinal conditions. The effects on product characteristics were strain-dependent (Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis BB-12, L. casei 431, L. paracasei L26, L. acidophilus LA-5, L. johnsonii LJ). These findings support the use of inulin–butyrate fortification in dairy matrices to enhance the functional potential of probiotic foods targeting gut health. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Probiotics, Postbiotics, Gut Microbiota and Gastrointestinal Health)
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