Application of postbiotics in aquafeeds for aquatic animal health and sustainable aquaculture
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Abstract
The application of postbiotics in aquafeeds has attracted increasing attention as a functional feed additive with the potential to improve production efficiency and support the sustainability of aquaculture. This article aims to synthesize current knowledge on the mechanisms of action of postbiotics, their effects on health and production performance, relevant influencing factors, and future trends and limitations in their application. The literature review indicates that postbiotics are preparations of inanimate microorganisms and/or their components that confer a health benefit on the host. These preparations can modulate the intestinal microbiota, inhibit pathogenic microorganisms, stimulate immune responses through pattern recognition receptors (PRRs) and cytokine pathways, reduce inflammation, and enhance nutrient digestion and absorption. These effects can contribute to improved growth performance, feed utilization efficiency, survival, and resistance to diseases and environmental stress. The supplementation of postbiotics in economically important aquaculture species, including Nile tilapia, catfish, carp, and whiteleg shrimp, shows considerable potential for improving growth, immune function, and intestinal health. However, their efficacy depends on the cultured species, type and dosage of postbiotics, and environmental conditions. Several challenges remain, particularly regarding product standardization, long-term safety, stability, and production costs. Future research is expected to focus on integrating postbiotics with precision aquaculture, functional aquafeeds, AI-based feed formulation, and the circular bioeconomy to enhance production efficiency, reduce antibiotic use, and minimize environmental impacts. Therefore, postbiotics have strong potential to become an important component of modern aquaculture, contributing to sustainable food security, economic development, and environmental sustainability.
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This article is published under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License (CC BY-NC-ND 4.0), which allows others to share the article with proper attribution to the authors and prohibits commercial use or modification. For any other reuse or republication, permission from the journal and the authors is required.References
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