If you’ve tried a probiotic before but didn’t notice much difference, it’s time to discover the power of synbiotics. Synbiotics are the combination of probiotics (beneficial bacteria) and prebiotics (their food source) that work together to support a thriving gut microbiome. This synergistic pairing helps probiotics survive and flourish in the digestive tract, leading to stronger results than either one alone. From digestion and immunity to mood and sleep, synbiotics support your microbiome and overall well-being in profound ways.

What Are Synbiotics?

A synbiotic is created when probiotic strains like Bifidobacteria, Lactobacilli, and others are combined with prebiotic fibers or non-digestible carbohydrates. Examples of prebiotics are fructooligosaccharides (FOS) or others like GOS, XOS, and inulin.

Synbiotic Benefits

When prebiotics and probiotics are combined to make synbiotics, it creates improved survival of probiotics as they pass through the upper GI tract. This leads to increased levels of Lactobacilli and Bifidobacteria and a balanced gut microbiome. Synbiotics furthermore prevent nonbeneficial bacteria from adhering to the gut.

Synbiotics support the gut microbiome to naturally release immune antimicrobial agents which protect the “tight junctions” function in the colon. These junctions are microscopic doors inside the gut lining that selectively open and close in a timely manner. When these doors stay open longer or become damaged, it leads to increased intestinal permeability.

Postbiotics

As probiotics digest prebiotics, another compound is produced called postbiotics. Postbiotics are short chain fatty acids like butyrate and are the primary, essential compound needed to maintain and repair the mucosal barrier and maintain numerous gut-organ functions of homeostasis.

Prebiotics, probiotics, and postbiotics work together to protect the gut mucosal and epithelial linings from dehydration, abrasion, toxins, enzymes and digestive juices, and germs. This protection is vital to the health of your heart, blood vessels, brain, bones, liver, and all other organs and tissues as they provide the interface between substances you consume and your body.

Synbiotics support the natural synthesis and absorption of nutrients like B vitamins. They also support liver function and bile acid metabolism. They help degrade toxins and block receptor sites from absorbing them.

Synbiotics are known to support immune function. They modulate the activities related to innate and adaptive immune responses, tolerances, and numerous inflammatory responses with Th1, Th2, Th17, T- and B cells, macrophages and more.

Children’s Health

A healthy gut microbiome is necessary for all ages. Keep this in mind for your kids and grandchildren with tummy aches. A recent placebo-controlled, double-blind study evaluated the effect of synbiotics in children ages 4-15 years. At the end of the 4-week clinical trial, participants who received the synbiotics experienced improvement in functional gastrointestinal comfort compared to the placebo group.

Bone Health

Bone health is highly related to gut microbiome health. Synbiotics increase the absorbability of minerals like calcium and other compounds in the digestive tract. Furthermore, synbiotics influence osteoblast and osteoclast activities and degrade compounds like phytic acid that compete with mineral absorption. Synbiotics also support a healthy activity level between osteoblast and osteoclasts for bone density mechanisms.

Sleep

In the last decade, researchers have discovered that pre-, pro-, and postbiotics affect sleep onset and quality by four highly interconnected pathways. These include neurological via the vagus nerve, immune responses, endocrine (HPA axis), and metabolic (leptin and insulin).

Synbiotics and postbiotics impact GABA and serotonin neurotransmitters, circadian rhythms, and immune responses integral to quality sleep. They perform a crosstalk between the gut-brain axis via the vagus nerve to maintain homeostasis and sleep-wake rhythms under stress.

However, disruption of the gut barrier similarly happens to the blood brain barrier which stresses the brain, causing disturbances in sleep regulation, quality and brain function. Ever had a meal that made your tummy rumble and then you couldn’t sleep?

Comfort and Mood

Gut dysbiosis has been linked with changes in pain perception and overall wellbeing. Studies in women show that use of prebiotics and probiotics supported comfort and pain tolerance, sleep, and mood. Synbiotics modulated the cortisol-hypothalamic pituitary adrenal axis (HPA) axis for improved stress tolerance resulting in lower production of IL-8 cytokines. There were also improvements in general well-being, cognitive function, and stress tolerance.

Menstrual Cycle Hormone Health

A February 2025 publication demonstrated the effects of synbiotics with lifestyle modifications and women’s reproductive health. Women who received synbiotic supplementation experienced metabolic improvement in lipid markers, testosterone and luteinizing hormone (LH) levels, and markers associated with gut dysbiosis. The results were superior to exercise and lifestyle treatment alone. 

The possibilities and ramifications are endless with how a healthy gut microbiome and gut barrier affect your whole body and well-being. Unfortunately, many aspects of modern living impair the balance of synbiotics and postbiotics.

Factors that Stimulate Dysbiosis and Increased Intestinal Permeability

Individuals on a restrictive diet such as a keto diet, high protein diet, other low carbohydrate diet, grain-free diets, or consume ultra-processed foods can lack prebiotic fibers, probiotic rich sources, and resistant starches for postbiotic needs.

The two most powerful factors that stimulate the increased intestinal permeability mechanism are gut bacterial overgrowth (dysbiosis) and eating foods with gluten.  

Furthermore, consuming food allergens, high stress, several medications like antibiotics, aspirin, ibuprofen, and other NSAIDs, acid blockers/PPIs, microplastics, detergents and emulsifiers found in the environment and food supply, excess and insufficient physical exercise, alcohol, high amounts of omega-6 fatty acids and saturated fats also disrupt the gut microbiome and increase intestinal barrier breakdown.

Glyphosate/Round-up and other pesticides/herbicides also upset the gut microbiome. Studies show that low level exposures of glyphosate, considered within the U.S. Acceptable Daily Intake limit, change the gut microbiome, disrupt homeostasis, and cause release of proinflammatory immune cells reflective of intestinal distress.

Support for Synbiotics and Postbiotics

A diet rich in organic whole foods is the foundation of a healthy lifestyle. Fiber-rich foods from organic whole grains, beans, legumes, fruits, vegetables, seeds and nuts, fermented vegetables, cultured yogurts, kefir, and other dairy/non-dairy products help synbiotics thrive and aid the formation of probiotics. Resistant starch foods such as beans, peas, lentils, plantains, green bananas as well as cooked and cooled oats, potatoes, rice and others support postbiotic production.

Nutritional Support

Wellness Resources Super Dophilus is a tried-and-true synbiotic supplement for 30 years -- long-before the term synbiotic entered the arena. This customer favorite contains the prebiotic FOS and six hardy strains of the probiotics Lactobacillus and Bifidobacteria. It is encapsulated in an acid-resistance capsule to survive stomach acid and is free of soy and dairy. Keep refrigerated for long-term storage.

Tributyrin Plus provides an advanced postbiotic butyrate with prebiotic fibers. This recent addition to Wellness Resources product line has quickly become popular. It works great! Tributyrin Plus may be combined with Super Dophilus.

GI & Muscle Helper contains prebiotic FOS with glutamine and N-acetyl-glucosamine. These nutrients also support intestinal lining repair and act synergistically with Super Dophilus and Tributyrin.

Many individuals feel better with a multi-faceted approach for helping the gut microbiome and intestinal barriers. Additional support for microbiome dysbiosis may include Oregano Oil, Monolaurin, Quercetin Phytosome + Luteolin, or Turmeric Gold.

A healthy digestive system is at the core of your health. When this system breaks down, it becomes a stressor to all other aspects of your health. Modern living is a definite challenge for the gut, making it a priority to support for all ages. How are you doing with gas, bloating, diarrhea, constipation, upset stomach, aches, pains, sleep, and overall well-being? Your gut microbiome system may be trying to get your attention!

Complimentary Information

Healthy Gut Flora Is Essential – Are You Taking the Right Probiotics?

Revitalize Your Gut: How Prebiotics, Probiotics & Postbiotics Work Together

Healthy Poop: What is Your Digestive Tract Telling You?

Chewing Well and Relaxed Meals Essential for Metabolism, Brain Health, and Healthy Poop

Leaky Gut Syndrome: More Than Just a Gut Problem

Support the Mighty Vagus Nerve

The Gut-Heart Connection: How Your Microbiome Impacts Cardiovascular Health