Adrian Kerester, senior director of growth, and Ravi Sheth, Ph.D., co-founder and chief science officer, Kingdom Supercultures, will be speaking at the upcoming Petfood Forum Asia this October 29 in Bangkok, Thailand, on the topic of "Postbiotics: Unlocking New Clinically Backed Pet Health Benefits."
As Asia's pet food and supplement market experiences rapid expansion, pet parents are increasingly demanding products that deliver measurable health improvements beyond marketing promises. Postbiotics are emerging as a compelling solution, offering validated science, consumer-relevant outcomes, and stability profiles that outperform traditional microbiome-focused ingredients.
The technology addresses four health concerns that are particularly acute in Asian markets: skin and coat health, digestive wellness, weight management and oral hygiene.
"Across Southeast and East Asia, pet parents prioritize solutions to four key urgent and unmet pet health needs: itching/skin health, digestive health, weight and metabolic health, and oral health," said Kerester. "These concerns are common worldwide but amplified in Asia's high-density urban environments, humid climates, and small dog- and cat-dominant pet population."
Clinical validation drives measurable outcomes
Kingdom Supercultures has developed what the company calls an entirely new class of clinically-validated postbiotics under its Superculture brand. The ingredients target specific health concerns through multiple double-blinded, placebo-controlled clinical studies.
The company's Superculture Pet Oral ingredient represents the first postbiotic clinically proven to target unwanted microbes that drive bad breath, plaque buildup, and poor oral health in dogs. Clinical results showed a 27% reduction in bad breath compounds versus placebo in seven days, with twice as many dogs showing noticeably fresher breath compared to the control group. The ingredient also boosted oral microbiome diversity and demonstrated approximately twice the effectiveness of market-leading dental chews in similar studies.
For skin and coat health, the company's Superculture Pet Immune ingredient has been clinically validated to reduce occasional itching in dogs. "We achieved more than 2.5 times stronger itch reduction than any biotic study on record," said Sheth. The clinical trials documented a 20% reduction in scratching measured by wearable accelerometers and a 27% reduction in human-perceived itching versus placebo, with visible skin and coat improvement in just 14 days.
Stability advantages in challenging climates
Traditional probiotics face significant challenges in Asian markets due to heat, humidity and long-distance transport that can degrade viability and compromise efficacy claims.
"Postbiotics deliver beneficial metabolites directly to the gut or oral cavity, maintaining full potency through extrusion, retort, storage in tropical conditions, and long shipping," Kerester explained. "That means consistent efficacy and claim integrity across extruded kibble, injection molded treats, toppers, wet foods, and single-serve pouches — formats that are often not compatible with probiotics."
The technology's heat, moisture, and pressure tolerance makes it compatible with essentially all product formats, from kibble and wet food to powder toppers, treats, chews, and lickable pouches popular with cat owners. This format flexibility provides consistent performance by delivering bioactives directly to target areas, reducing variability from pet-specific factors like diet or individual microbiome differences.
Implementation considerations for manufacturers
For companies considering postbiotic incorporation, Kingdom Supercultures emphasized the importance of verified efficacy data and process compatibility. The company recommended seeking ingredients backed by peer-reviewed in vivo trials at intended doses, with demonstrated stability through specific heat, moisture and pressure profiles.
"Postbiotics are inherently stable and versatile — but not all are created equal," noted Sheth. "To ensure consistent real-world efficacy and protect your brand equity, it is critical to seek out and verify that data supports efficacy in your end-product."
Key considerations include shelf-life verification in actual products under market-relevant conditions and ongoing quality control support from ingredient suppliers. The approach helps manufacturers navigate the complex landscape of postbiotic claims while ensuring consistent performance across diverse Asian markets.
Petfood Forum Asia will feature exclusive sessions and networking opportunities focused on the Asian pet food market. The one-day seminar will be co-located with Pet Fair South East Asia on October 29 in Bangkok, Thailand. To register, click here.
