REVIEW article
Front. Microbiol.
Sec. Food Microbiology
Volume 16 - 2025 | doi: 10.3389/fmicb.2025.1651965
This article is part of the Research TopicMechanisms of Fermented Foods and Interactions with the Gut MicrobiomeView all 8 articles
A comprehensive overview of the effects of probiotics, prebiotics and synbiotics on the gut-brain axis
Provisionally accepted
Gizem Kezer1,2
Spiros Paramithiotis3Khaoula Khwaldia4
Iskandar Azmy Harahap5Martina Čagalj6
Vida Šimat6
Slim Smaoui7
Walid Elfalleh8
Fatih OZOGUL9
Tuba Esatbeyoglu1*- 1Leibniz University Hannover, Hanover, Germany
- 2Kirsehir Ahi Evran Universitesi, Kırşehir, Türkiye
- 3Panepistemio Ioanninon, Ioannina, Greece
- 4Institut National de Recherche et d'Analyse Physico-chimique, Sidi Thabet, Tunisia
- 5Leibniz Universitat Hannover, Hanover, Germany
- 6Sveuciliste u Splitu, Split, Croatia
- 7Centre de Biotechnologie de Sfax, Sfax, Tunisia
- 8Imam Muhammad Ibn Saud Islamic University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
- 9Cukurova Universitesi, Adana, Türkiye
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The gut-brain axis (GBA) represents a complex bidirectional communication system connecting the gastrointestinal tract and the central nervous system through neural, endocrine, immune, and metabolic pathways. Emerging evidence suggests that dietary interventions, particularly probiotics, prebiotics, and synbiotics, can influence the composition and activity of the gut microbiota, thereby modulating GBA function. Such modulation has been linked to potential benefits for cognitive performance, emotional regulation, and resilience against neurodegenerative and neuropsychiatric disorders. In addition, these interventions may contribute to immune homeostasis and the management of chronic conditions such as inflammatory bowel disease, irritable bowel syndrome, and multiple sclerosis. Nevertheless, the mechanisms underlying these effects and their long-term clinical relevance remain incompletely understood. In this narrative review, we systematically synthesize current clinical and preclinical evidence on the role of probiotics, prebiotics, and synbiotics in regulating the GBA. Particular attention is given to their impact on neurocognitive outcomes and systemic health, highlighting both the therapeutic potential and the existing gaps that warrant further investigation.
Keywords: probiotic, prebiotic, Synbiotic, gut-brain axis, Health
Received: 22 Jun 2025; Accepted: 25 Sep 2025.
Copyright: © 2025 Kezer, Paramithiotis, Khwaldia, Harahap, Čagalj, Šimat, Smaoui, Elfalleh, OZOGUL and Esatbeyoglu. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.
* Correspondence: Tuba Esatbeyoglu, esatbeyoglu@lw.uni-hannover.de
Disclaimer: All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article or claim that may be made by its manufacturer is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.