Ayşe Nur KAHVE, Yağmur YILDIZ
The European Research Journal - 2026;12(7):760-769
Objective: Postbiotics, defined as non-viable microbial cells or their components that provide health benefits, are emerging as an important topic in functional food research. However, awareness and consumption among young adults remain limited. This study aimed to evaluate the awareness and knowledge levels of postbiotics among university students. Methods: The study population included 346 students who completed a questionnaire consisting of 17 demographic and lifestyle questions and a 20-item postbiotic knowledge scale adapted from a validated tool. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze the data. Results: It was revealed that 86.1% (n=298) of the students included in this study had never heard of postbiotics and 96.2% (n=333) had never used postbiotic supplements. Overall, 48.8% (n=169) of participants had a poor, 39.0% (n=135) a moderate, and 11.8% (n=41) a good knowledge level. Female students demonstrated significantly higher knowledge scores than males (P<0.05). Conclusion: The findings indicate that university students have limited awareness and consumption of postbiotics. Contributing factors may include insufficient promotion, inadequate understanding of health benefits, and limited market availability of postbiotic products. To improve awareness, it is recommended that educational activities be organized in universities to enhance students' understanding of postbiotics and encourage their inclusion in health-promoting dietary habits.
