Why Prebiotics, Probiotics & Postbiotics Work Better Together for Digestive Health

Most people know about probiotics, but digestive health isn’t just about adding “good bacteria.” The gut is a complex ecosystem and it functions best when prebiotics, probiotics, and postbiotics work together.

Here’s why this trio is so effective.

Probiotics: Restoring Balance in the Gut

Probiotics are living beneficial bacteria that help:

Improve digestion
Reduce bloating
Support immune function
Keep harmful bacteria in check

But probiotics need the right environment to thrive and that’s where prebiotics and postbiotics come in.

Prebiotics: Feeding the Good Bacteria

Prebiotics (like inulin, FOS, GOS) are types of dietary fibre that act as “food” for good bacteria. They help probiotics to multiply and colonise effectively, maintaining long term gut balance.

This interaction produces beneficial metabolites (like SCFAs, organic acids, etc). Without prebiotics, many probiotics struggle to survive and establish themselves in the gut.

Postbiotics: The Real Functional Compounds

We mentioned above that probiotic + prebiotic interaction produces beneficial metabolites right? Postbiotics are them! Postbiotics are beneficial metabolites produced which include:

Short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs)
Enzymes
Peptides
Organic acids
Beneficial immune-signalling molecules

They are the one responsible for many of the actual health benefits, such as:

Strengthening the gut barrier
Reducing inflammation
Supporting regular bowel movement
Enhancing immune resilience

Unlike probiotics, postbiotics are not alive, which makes them naturally stable and easy to absorb.

Why Combining All Three Works Better

When taken together:

Component Role

Prebiotics Feed good bacteria

Probiotics Restore and balance the microbiome

Postbiotics Deliver functional benefits quickly

This creates a full-circle effect:

Feed → Grow → Benefit

Our Oricell® 3P Biome delivers all of these in one step, making it ideal for people who want a clean, convenient way to support digestion without mixing powders or taking capsules.

References

Markowiak P, Śliżewska K. Effects of probiotics, prebiotics, and synbiotics on human health. Nutrients. 2017.
Salminen S et al. Postbiotics—A new term? Curr Opin Biotechnol. 2020.
Gibson GR et al. The concept of synbiotics. J Nutr. 1995.
Vinderola G et al. Definition and scope of postbiotics. Int J Food Microbiol. 2022.
Azad MAK et al. Mechanistic actions of prebiotics and probiotics on gut barrier function. Nutrients. 2021