Akademik Veri Yönetim Sistemi
CURRENT PHARMACEUTICAL BIOTECHNOLOGY, cilt.1, sa.33, ss.65-70, 2025 (SCI-Expanded, Scopus)
Probiotics and postbiotics are essential components of modern dietary supplememts,
recognized for their beneficial effects on human health. While probiotics positively influence gut
microbiota, digestion, and immune responses, their safety remains a concern, particularly in
immunocompromised individuals, due to risks such as infections, transfer of antibiotic resistance
genes, and systemic complications. In contrast, postbiotics—defined as inanimate microorganisms
and/or their cellular components—offer a safer alternative by providing similar health benefits
However, safety assessments of postbiotics remain limited and must address critical issues such as
cytotoxicity, impurity profiles, and dose–response uncertainties, which are currently under-
explored in the literature. Their enhanced stability under various environmental conditions further
supports their application in inhibiting foodborne pathogens and extending product shelf life.
This review critically evaluates the safety profiles of probiotics and postbiotics, offering a
balanced analysis of their benefits and limitations, with particular attention to emerging safety
concerns, risk assessment criteria, and applications in food safety and human health. Despite their
promising safety profile, widespread adoption of postbiotics is hindered by the absence of
standardized safety protocols and long-term toxicological data. Future research should therefore
prioritize establishing evidence-based safety criteria, optimizing dosage and formulation for both
probiotics and postbiotics, and addressing existing knowledge gaps through rigorous, targeted
clinical studies, especially in vulnerable population.