By now, most people are familiar with probiotics, the live bacteria found in foods like yogurt, kefir, fermented vegetables, as well as available in supplement form. But a newer-to-consumer category, postbiotics, is drawing notable scientific interest because it works differently and has some distinct advantages compared to probiotics. Rather than introducing living organisms into the gut as probiotics do, postbiotics are made from inactive microorganisms or the beneficial compounds they leave behind. ¹ They’re helping create a healthy, diverse gut in new ways and they have some benefits over probiotics.
What Are Probiotics, Prebiotics, and Postbiotics?
· Probiotics: These are live microorganisms that, when consumed in adequate amounts, provide health benefits. Common strains like Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium occur naturally in the gut, and they’re also found in fermented foods such as yogurt and kefir. ²
· Prebiotics: These are substances — typically dietary fibers and complex carbohydrates — that provide health benefits by acting as selective feed for beneficial gut bacteria. They’re found in foods like whole grains, onions, and garlic. ³
· Postbiotics: Postbiotics are non-living microorganisms and their components that have health benefits, including inhibiting the growth of harmful bacteria while enhancing beneficial bacteria.¹ Unlike probiotics, postbiotics don't need to remain alive to work.
Spindle Muscle+, powered by Akkermansia MYO™, is a daily postbiotic derived from Akkermansia muciniphila through a proprietary pasteurization process.
Benefits of Postbiotics Over Probiotics
Emerging research has explored how postbiotics compare to probiotics across various instances.⁴ While one isn’t necessarily "better," there are some practical applications that show postbiotics have specific advantages over probiotics.⁵
· Stability: Because postbiotics don't rely on living organisms, they have an extended shelf life and hold up better under most storage conditions that could otherwise reduce a probiotic's live bacterial count.⁶
· No refrigeration required: Postbiotic formulations don't need refrigeration, making them easier to store and travel with.⁶
· Consistent dosing every time: Since there's no risk of live organisms dying off, a postbiotic’s potency on day one is generally consistent with what you’d find at the bottom of a bottle, with a storage life up to 2 years.
· Suitable for most populations: Because postbiotics contain no live organisms, they're generally more tolerant and considered appropriate for a wider range of people.⁴
Probiotics remain essential for creating diverse gut microbial populations in the microbiome, but these helpful microorganisms serve different roles in the gut than postbiotics — which help promote equilibrium and various health benefits, like immune regulation, gastrointestinal health, and improved muscle function.⁶
Another benefit is their potential for targeted action. Postbiotics can be engineered to act on specific pathways — like the gut-muscle connection.⁴ Akkermansia MYO™, for instance, was developed specifically to support this connection, with clinically proven results: in a 12-week randomized, placebo-controlled study, results showed improvements in lower leg strength and handgrip strength versus placebo. *
The Bottom Line
Akkermansia MYO™ was carefully designed as a postbiotic through a proprietary pasteurization process to create a heat-killed bacterial formulation that ensures stability and consistency of benefits.⁷ Spindle+ powered by Akkermansia MYO™ offers a consistent delivery that’s specifically designed for effective absorption within hours. This postbiotic reinforces the gut barrier and supports a healthy inflammatory response to help activate the pathways your body uses to build strength. The shelf-stable component means you’re getting the same high-quality supplement at the end of the month as the first day you opened the packaging. Choose your Spindle Muscle+ subscription here.
SOURCES
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Salminen, S., Collado, M.C., Endo, A. et al. The International Scientific Association of Probiotics and Prebiotics (ISAPP) consensus statement on the definition and scope of postbiotics. Nat Rev Gastroenterol Hepatol 18, 649–667 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41575-021-00440-6
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Hill, C., Guarner, F., Reid, G. et al. The International Scientific Association for Probiotics and Prebiotics consensus statement on the scope and appropriate use of the term probiotic. Nat Rev Gastroenterol Hepatol 11, 506–514 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1038/nrgastro.2014.66
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Gibson, G., Hutkins, R., Sanders, M. et al. Expert consensus document: The International Scientific Association for Probiotics and Prebiotics (ISAPP) consensus statement on the definition and scope of prebiotics. Nat Rev Gastroenterol Hepatol 14, 491–502 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1038/nrgastro.2017.75
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Ma L, Tu H, Chen T. Postbiotics in Human Health: A Narrative Review. Nutrients. 2023 Jan 6;15(2):291. doi: 10.3390/nu15020291. PMID: 36678162; PMCID: PMC9863882.
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Ji J, Jin W, Liu SJ, Jiao Z, Li X. Probiotics, prebiotics, and postbiotics in health and disease. MedComm (2020). 2023 Nov 4;4(6):e420. doi: 10.1002/mco2.420. PMID: 37929014; PMCID: PMC10625129.
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Żółkiewicz J, Marzec A, Ruszczyński M, Feleszko W. Postbiotics—A Step Beyond Pre- and Probiotics. Nutrients. 2020; 12(8):2189. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu12082189
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Thirumdas R, Mudgil P. Emerging Nonthermal Technologies for the Production of Postbiotics. Compr Rev Food Sci Food Saf. 2025 Nov;24(6):e70335. doi: 10.1111/1541-4337.70335. PMID: 41273201; PMCID: PMC12639491.
*Based on a 12-week placebo-controlled study of Akkermansia MYO™ in adults ages 60-80 (predominantly women). Individual results may vary. Third-party clinical study, data on file.
