Abstract: Postbiotics are a preparation of inanimate microorganisms and/or their components are beneficial to the health of the host, with multiple advantages such as safety, stability, easy storage and production, and clear chemical structure. This article reviews the major bioactive ingredients, probiotic functions and current application status of postbiotics; elaborates the health benefits of inactivated bacterial cells, bacterial components and bacterial metabolites to the host; summarizes recent progress in understanding the health benefits of postbiotics such as enhancing immunity, regulating gastrointestinal function, alleviating obesity, maintaining oral health, and preventing osteoporosis; outlines commercially available postbiotic products in Japan, the United States, Germany and China; and proposes the challenges and new research directions of postbiotics.

Key words: postbiotics, inanimate microorganisms, bioactive ingredient, probiotic function, application status