Mechanism of action of postbiotics intervention in alcoholic liver injury and future research directions

Alcoholic liver injury is a major global public health concern with limited efficacy of existing therapies. Postbiotics, as inanimate microbial derivatives with high stability and safety, have emerged as promising interventions for alleviating alcoholic liver injury via regulating intestinal microbiota, inhibiting oxidative stress, modulating lipid metabolism, suppressing inflammation, and protecting hepatocytes. Despite positive preclinical evidence, challenges such as unclear molecular mechanisms, insufficient clinical data, and lack of standardization remain. This article summarizes the characteristics of postbiotics, their core mechanisms of action in alcoholic liver injury, current research challenges, and prospective directions, providing a theoretical basis for their clinical translation and practical application.