Biotics for microbiome and metabolic health

Probiotics were the starting point for gut health and wellbeing. Now with scientific knowledge and practice evolving, it’s clear the biotics ecosystem has more to offer.

There is a full spectrum of solutions emerging, and these actives can unlock healthy aging benefits so consumers can enjoy better ‘older’ years.

A growing body of research supports the assertion that gut health is the cornerstone of healthy aging. For consumers, maintaining a varied and healthy gut microbiome with prebiotics, probiotics, and postbiotics plays a central role across multiple physiological systems responsible for metabolic health, immunity and cognitive resilience.

“Sabinsa sees itself as being able to help consumers to add good years to their life – that’s healthspan – with a combination of pre-, pro- and post-biotics,” says Dr Umar Jan, president of European operations at Sabinsa Europe. It is a sentiment underlined by Dr Shaheen Majeed, global CEO and managing director of Sami-Sabinsa Group.

“Longevity science is increasingly grounded in mechanisms, and the gut microbiome now sits at the center of that discussion,” says Dr Shaheen Majeed. “Aging is consistently associated with reduced microbial diversity, impaired gut barrier function and chronic low‑grade inflammation, all of which link to insulin resistance, dyslipidemia, frailty and cognitive decline.

“At the mechanistic level, gut microbial metabolites such as short‑chain fatty acids (SCFA) help maintain intestinal barrier integrity, modulate immune responses and participate in host energy metabolism, while age‑related dysbiosis is associated with inflammation and metabolic disturbances,” he continues.

“The opportunity is to translate the complex, rapidly evolving evidence into stable, scalable and regulation‑ready solutions that truly support healthspan – digestive comfort, immune balance, and metabolic resilience – rather than make exaggerated lifespan claims,” says Dr Shaheen Majeed.

To navigate the expanding science, the International Scientific Association for Probiotics and Prebiotics (ISAPP) now provides consensus criteria for probiotics, prebiotics and postbiotics that emphasize characterization and demonstrated benefit, giving responsible companies a clear framework for intervention design. This is the scientific landscape in which Sabinsa chooses to lead.¹

With growing category demand for next-gen probiotics (valued at $231m in 2024 and expected to reach nearly $486m in 2032 – a CAGR of over 11% in that time) being driven by consumer sophistication, increasing regulatory pressures and advancing scientific research, synergistic biotic systems are emerging as the future of innovation in actives.²

Metabolic health in particular is essential for healthspan, indeed it significantly influences the pace at which individuals age. A range of factors contribute to this. When nutrient seeking pathways (eg, insulin signaling) become dysregulated this can lead to cellular distress and accelerate aging. Mitochondria which produce energy from nutrients can also generate reactive oxygen species (ROS) and if metabolism is impaired, ROS levels rise causing lipid and protein damage that limits mitochondrial efficiency.

Poor metabolic health can further increase inflammation – known to be a hallmark of aging (inflammaging) – accelerating cognitive decline, impairing immune function as well as raising the risk of cardiovascular disease. Conversely, good metabolic health prevents diabetes, high blood pressure and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, supporting longevity.³

Establishing a healthy gut microbiome can be achieved using various actives at different stages of the digestive and microbial process. Prebiotics, probiotics and postbiotics all have a role to play in enhancing gut health which in turn has advantages for healthspan. Combining them allows brands to design more comprehensive solutions.

Prebiotics

These non-digestible fibres feed gut microorganisms supporting the microbiome environment, reducing inflammation, and enabling metabolic resilience. When the fibers or substrates ferment in the colon they stimulate the growth of beneficial microbes. The fermentation also produce SCFA which support the integrity of the gut barrier – important for immunity and metabolic health. Prebiotics reduce the pH level of the gut rendering it a less conducive environment for pathogens. They also improve mineral absorption.

Probiotics

The most familiar of the biotics, these healthy bacteria are live microorganisms that ensure optimal gut function. Probiotics support immune resilience by promoting regulatory T cells that keep pathogens in check, and reduce inflammatory responses. They compete with harmful microbes for space and nutrients – a process called competitive exclusion – and some strains produce vitamins or SCFA. Their interactions with the gut-brain axis may improve mood and encourage stress regulation, and they play a role in metabolic health by improving glucose and lipid regulation.

Postbiotics

Postbiotics are bioactive compounds produced by probiotics during the fermentation process and include SCFA, enzymes, peptides and inactive microbial cells. Their mechanisms include reinforcing the gut barrier, antimicrobial activity and immunity modulation. They are safe and stable due to their non-live nature which makes them suitable for vulnerable populations (elderly, infants and individuals who are immunocompromised).

The actives strategy

Sabinsa is a biotics supplier whose work underpins major developments in this sector, enabling innovation across the ecosystem. The company produces actives in each of the biotic categories and recommends combination use of them in order to capture any additive or amplified effects.

Sabinsa’s strategy is deliberately full‑spectrum and some of their leading products are as follows:

Starmeric^® This prebiotic, aligned with SCFA production, is efficacious for gut health with anti-inflammatory properties. Its resistant structure feeds beneficial bacteria.
LactoSpore^® Sabinsa’s flagship probiotic product is a clinically investigated spore‑forming probiotic backed by extensive research. It is a solution with benefits across digestive, immune and gut/brain health and is ideal for older populations.
ImmunoSpore^® This is a biotic containing non-live bacteria that offers a safe option for older populations or medically complex consumers.

The biotic toolkit

The future of healthy aging will be an opportunity for companies who can bring to market scalable solutions, with efficacious ingredients that have undergone rigorous scientific enquiry. Biotics provide a versatile toolkit from which to choose tailored solutions for individuals.

With its expertize across the biotics spectrum and breakthrough development of next-gen postbiotics, Sabinsa stands out as an innovator and beneficial long-term partner in ingredient development. Development risk can be mitigated as a result of Sabinsa’s status as a contract supplier, meaning a test and learn approach can be employed enabling production of smaller batches. In addition, Sabinsa is a leader in the scientific and operational aspects of biotics and can guarantee its supply chain, so is well placed to be a credible partner for long-term success in this market.

“Our goal is straightforward,” says Dr Shaheen Majeed, “to be the partner of choice for brands that want to build the next generation of microbiome‑centered healthy‑aging products, with scientific rigor that stands up in peer‑reviewed literature and commercial realism that works on a global scale.”

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