The postbiotic potential of microalgae

The International Scientific Association for Probiotics and Prebiotics (ISAPP) has defined postbiotics as “preparations of inanimate microorganisms and/or their components that confer a health benefit on the host.” Considering that microalgae are prepared and used as inactivated powders in foods and food supplements due to their rich composition of nutrients and bioactive compounds known to positively influence human health, this opinion review aims to evaluate whether they may be classified as postbiotics. To this scope, nutritional aspects of microalgae and cyanobacteria and their use in foods and food supplements are reported, highlighting their potential postbiotic activity within the framework of the concept and definition of postbiotic. Despite the growing body of evidence on the health benefits of microalgae, unlocking the full potential of microalgae as postbiotics would offer promising opportunities for advancing health and nutrition.