Harnessing the potential of postbiotics derived from Bacillus coagulans: A promising avenue for obesity management via the gut-liver axis

Postbiotics are generated through the inactivation and decomposition of probiotics. The present study found that the administration of postbiotics derived from Bacillus coagulans had beneficial effects on improving obesity through the gut-liver axis. 16-week high-fat and fructose diet led to increased serum lipid levels, hepatic steatosis, gut dysbiosis, and obesity. However, treatments with B. coagulans JA845 and its postbiotics alleviated insulin resistance and improved lipid disorders through the AMPK/LKB pathway. Intriguingly, the regulatory effects of B. coagulans JA845 postbiotics on gut microbiota composition were similar to those of B. coagulans JA845, and was characterized by the augmentation of Allobaculum, Muribaculaceae, and Parasutterella populations, concomitant with a reduction in Faecalibaculum and Desulfovibrio. Furthermore, B. coagulans JA845 postbiotics significantly increased the production of short-chain fatty acids, prominently elevating butyric acid levels by 1.4-fold compared to the model group. Consequently, B. coagulans JA845 postbiotics hold promise as a potential functional food additive with stability and obesity-improving properties.