biodicon Biological Diversity and Conservation 1308-5301 1308-8084 Ersin YÜCEL 10.46309/biodicon.2026.1838383 Biochemistry and Cell Biology (Other) Biyokimya ve Hücre Biyolojisi (Diğer) From probiotics to postbiotics: microbial approaches in male reproductive health Probiyotiklerden postbiyotiklere: erkek üreme sağlığında mikrobiyal yaklaşımlar https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5215-6088 Zengin Gamze KUTAHYA HEALTH SCIENCES UNIVERSITY https://orcid.org/0009-0002-7609-8617 Azkeskin Kerem KUTAHYA HEALTH SCIENCES UNIVERSITY https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8356-9806 Kar Fatih KUTAHYA HEALTH SCIENCES UNIVERSITY 02 16 2026 19 1 99 106 12 08 2025 01 25 2026 Copyright © 2008, Biological Diversity and Conservation 2008 Biological Diversity and Conservation

From Probiotics to Postbiotics: Microbial Approaches in Male Reproductive HealthGamze ZENGİN 1, Kerem AZKESKİN 2, Fatih KAR 2ORCID: 0000-0002-5215-6088; 0009-0002-7609-8617; 0000-0001-8356-9806.1 Kütahya University of Health Sciences, Department of Medical Biology, Kütahya, 43000, Turkey.2 Kütahya University of Health Sciences, Department of Medical Biochemistry, Kütahya, 43000, Turkey.Purpose: Fertility refers to an individual's reproductive health and capacity for reproduction, while infertility is the inability to achieve a healthy pregnancy. The purpose of this review is to examine the impact of microbial approaches on male reproductive health and to compile current findings on how gut microbiota regulation can improve fertility outcomes.Method: A literature search was conducted using articles obtained from various scientific databases (PubMed, Google Scholar, Scopus). The review focused on studies addressing the effects of probiotics, postbiotics, and other microbial therapeutic approaches, including fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT), on male reproductive health.Findings: The studies indicate that microbiome imbalance negatively affects male reproductive health by impairing sperm production, testosterone levels, and sperm quality. Microbiome-based therapies, including prebiotics, probiotics, postbiotics, and FMT, can restore microbial balance, support beneficial microorganisms, and provide biologically active compounds. These interventions have the potential to improve sperm quality, regulate hormone levels, and enhance overall male reproductive health.Conclusion: This review highlights the potential of microbial therapeutic approaches in improving male reproductive health. By regulating gut microbiota balance, these therapies offer promising strategies for addressing male infertility. The findings provide a comprehensive understanding of the development, effectiveness, and potential applications of microbiome-based treatments in reproductive medicine.Keywords: Microbiota, Infertility, Prebiotics, Probiotics, Postbiotics, FMT.

Probiyotiklerden Postbiyotiklere: Erkek Üreme Sağlığında Mikrobiyal YaklaşımlarÖzetAmaç: Fertilite, bireyin üreme sağlığını ve üreme kapasitesini ifade ederken; infertilite, sağlıklı bir gebelik elde edememe durumudur. Bu derlemenin amacı, mikrobiyal yaklaşımların erkek üreme sağlığı üzerindeki etkilerini incelemek ve bağırsak mikrobiyotasının düzenlenmesi yoluyla fertiliteyi iyileştirebilecek güncel bulguları derlemektir.Yöntem: Araştırma, çeşitli bilimsel veri tabanlarından (PubMed, Google Scholar, Scopus) elde edilen makaleler kullanılarak yapılan bir literatür taramasına dayanmaktadır. Derleme, probiyotikler, postbiyotikler ve fekal mikrobiyota transplantasyonu (FMT) dahil olmak üzere diğer mikrobiyal tedavi yaklaşımlarının erkek üreme sağlığı üzerindeki etkilerini ele alan çalışmalara odaklanmıştır.Bulgular: Çalışmalar, mikrobiyom dengesizliğinin sperm üretimini, testosteron seviyelerini ve sperm kalitesini olumsuz etkileyerek erkek üreme sağlığını bozduğunu göstermektedir. Prebiyotikler, probiyotikler, postbiyotikler ve FMT gibi mikrobiyom temelli terapiler, mikrobiyal dengeyi yeniden sağlayabilir, faydalı mikroorganizmaları destekleyebilir ve biyolojik olarak aktif bileşikler sunabilir. Bu müdahaleler, sperm kalitesini artırma, hormon seviyelerini düzenleme ve genel erkek üreme sağlığını iyileştirme potansiyeline sahiptir.Sonuç: Bu derleme, mikrobiyal tedavi yaklaşımlarının erkek üreme sağlığını iyileştirmedeki potansiyelini vurgulamaktadır. Bağırsak mikrobiyotasının dengelenmesi yoluyla bu terapiler, erkek infertilitesine yönelik umut verici stratejiler sunmaktadır. Bulgular, üreme tıbbında mikrobiyom temelli tedavilerin gelişimi, etkinliği ve potansiyel uygulama alanları hakkında kapsamlı bir anlayış sağlamaktadır.Anahtar Kelimeler: Mikrobiyota, İnfertilite, Prebiyotikler, Probiyotikler, Postbiyotikler, FMT

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