Paraprobiotics: what they are and what they can do for your health –

You’ve probably heard of probiotics and even prebiotics. We ourselves have already explained everything about these assets here, in addition to talking about the benefits they bring to the skin here.

But there is another category of these microorganisms, the paraprobiotics. We spoke to Claudia Coral, pharmaceutical specialist in actives to tell us everything:

WHAT ARE PARAPROBIOTICS?

Paraprobiotics are probiotics (“good bacteria”) that are inactivated, that is, dead, being known as ghost probiotics. Its action is aimed at balancing intestinal health, improving immunity and reducing inflammation and skin irritation.

WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF PARAPROBIOTICS?

It favors the balance and health of the intestine and, consequently, the health of the skin, heart, lungs, etc. In addition, the presence of these actives in formulations for topical use, such as skin creams, contributes to the reduction of inflammatory processes, irritations and skin discomforts. They also help maintain hydration and skin health in general.

WHERE CAN WE FIND THEM

Paraprobiotics can be found in foods such as bread and yogurt, but the amount present in these foods is small. Therefore, supplementation may come in handy when the prescriber identifies this need, after evaluating the patient.

“Among the examples, we can mention the paraprobiotics Neo-MAMPS B. lactis and Neo-MAMPS L. gasseri, which can be manipulated. In addition to them, we can mention Newbiome, which is a source of tributyrin, a compound that releases butyrate in the intestine, a postbiotic that is difficult to produce naturally, which is why supplementation with Newbiome is so interesting, as it helps to reduce inflammation and discomfort intestines, in addition to improving the barrier against the entry of substances and microorganisms that may cause harm to our body”, says Cláudia.

DIFFERENCE BETWEEN PREBIOTICS, PROBIOTICS, PARAPROBIOTICS AND POSBIOTICS

In summary, the pharmacist explains:

Probiotics: beneficial microorganisms, which hinder the presence of disease-causing microorganisms in the intestine; Prebiotics: are the fibers, which serve as food for probiotics; Paraprobiotics: are inactivated probiotics, known as ghost probiotics. Its action is aimed at balancing intestinal health and improving immunity. Postbiotics: are the products formed from the feeding of probiotics with fibers. They have diverse actions in the metabolism of the organism and control of inflammations.

“We need all of them because in our organism, everything is a balance. Each of these compounds has specific functions that help maintain health as a whole,” says Cláudia.

Thus, the 4 Ps (prebiotic, probiotic, paraprobiotic and postbiotic) refer to the set of assets that help improve and maintain intestinal health. This is important because the health of the intestine is reflected in everything, including the skin and, therefore, taking care of the intestine is also taking care of the skin. This is because these two organs are in contact with the external environment: the skin, for protecting us from pollutants, disease-causing microorganisms and allergenic substances, while the intestine is responsible for blocking the entry of poorly digested foods and toxins, which is important for the care of our body as a whole.