Postbiotics
Postbiotics are bioactive compounds produced when probiotics ferment fiber in the gut. They include short-chain fatty acids, bacteriocins, enzymes, and cell wall fragments. Glimpse's 2026 supplement trend report lists postbiotics at 27,000 monthly searches with 55% year-over-year growth — making this the fastest-growing supplement subcategory right now.
Prebiotics vs Probiotics vs Postbiotics: The Honest Explanation
Prebiotics
Non-digestible fibers that feed beneficial gut bacteria. Examples: inulin, FOS, GOS. Source: foods like garlic, onions, oats, and fiber supplements.
Probiotics
Live beneficial bacteria taken as supplements. Examples: Lactobacillus acidophilus, Bifidobacterium longum, Akkermansia muciniphila. Source: fermented foods and supplements.
Postbiotics
Bioactive compounds produced when probiotics digest prebiotics. Examples: butyrate, propionate, acetate (short-chain fatty acids), bacteriocins, and enzymes. Source: fermented foods and specific supplements.
Why Butyrate Is the Most Important Postbiotic
Butyrate is a short-chain fatty acid produced when gut bacteria ferment prebiotic fiber. It is the primary energy source for colonocytes — the cells that line your colon. Multiple peer-reviewed studies confirm that butyrate reduces intestinal permeability (leaky gut), decreases colonic inflammation, and regulates the immune response.
The fastest way to increase your butyrate levels is not to take a butyrate supplement — it is to eat more prebiotic fiber and let your existing gut bacteria produce it naturally. Alternatively, sodium butyrate or tributyrin supplements can directly deliver butyrate, though these are newer and have less long-term clinical data than fiber-based approaches.