New Insights in Multifunctional Foods: Applications of Postbiotics, Pharmabiotics, Psychobiotics, Parabiotics, and Cobiotics

The field of multifunctional foods is witnessing a transformative phase with the incorporation of bioactive microbial-derived compounds like postbiotics, pharmabiotics, psychobiotics, parabiotics, and cobiotics. These compounds present novel opportunities to augment human health by modulating biological processes, supporting gut and immune health, boosting mental well-being, and promoting overall metabolic balance. With promising advantages such as stability and targeted functionality, these bioactives offer a wide range of applications across diverse food systems. Recent studies have begun to elucidate their significant roles; however, there remains a need for a comprehensive investigation into their integration and optimization within food products.
This Research Topic aims to further explore the applications, mechanisms, and practical integration of these microbial-based bioactive compounds in food products. Central to this exploration are the questions:

• How do postbiotics, pharmabiotics, psychobiotics, parabiotics, and cobiotics interact with gut microbiota and physiological pathways to influence human health?
• What innovative bioprocessing and formulation strategies can enhance their stability, bioavailability, and functionality in food matrices?
• How can these multifunctional food products be refined for consumer acceptance, regulatory compliance, and market success?

Addressing these queries, we seek to stimulate research into both physiological impacts and practical formulations in food matrices.
To gather further insights in this broad and innovative area, we welcome articles addressing, but not limited to, the following themes:

o Impact and mechanisms of microbial bioactive compounds on human health.
o Advances in formulation technologies and bioprocessing for stability and functionality.
o Clinical efficacy of microbial-derived bioactive compounds in multifunctional foods.
o Consumer acceptance, market integration, and regulatory compliance for bioactive foods.
o Interdisciplinary studies combining omics, nutritional analyses, and sensory evaluations.

We are looking for articles that offer novel insights into the innovation of multifunctional foods. We particularly welcome interdisciplinary studies combining omics technologies, nutritional analyses, and sensory evaluations to elucidate mechanisms and demonstrate health benefits.

Article types and fees

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Editorial
• FAIR² Data
• FAIR² DATA Direct Submission
• General Commentary
• Hypothesis and Theory
• Methods
• Mini Review
• Opinion
• Original Research
• ... View all formats

Articles that are accepted for publication by our external editors following rigorous peer review incur a publishing fee charged to Authors, institutions, or funders.

Article types

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Editorial
• FAIR² Data
• FAIR² DATA Direct Submission
• General Commentary
• Hypothesis and Theory
• Methods
• Mini Review
• Opinion
• Original Research
• Perspective
• Review
• Systematic Review
• Technology and Code

Keywords: Postbiotics, Pharmabiotics, Psychobiotics, Parabiotics, Cobiotics, Functional Foods, Gut Microbiota, Bioavailability, Food Innovation, Health Benefits

Important note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.