Paraprobiotics obtained by six different inactivation processes: impacts on the biochemical parameters and intestinal microbiota of Wistar male rats.

This study investigated the effects of feeding paraprobiotics obtained by six processes [heat, ultrasound, high pH, low pH, irradiation and supercritical carbon dioxide (CO ₂ )] on biochemical parameters and intestinal microbiota of Wistar male rats. Daily administration of paraprobiotics did not affect ( p  ≥ 0.05) the food intake, body weight, glucose and triglycerides levels, expression of antioxidant enzymes or thermal shock proteins in comparison to the control. Bifidobacterium lactis inactivated by irradiation and supercritical CO ₂ decreased the total cholesterol levels in serum ( p  < 0.05). Bifidobacterium lactis inactivated by supercritical CO ₂ increased the albumin and creatinine levels, while decreased the HDL-cholesterol levels ( p  < 0.05). Clostridiales (45.6-56%), Bacteroidales (31.9-44.2%) and Lactobacillales (3.9-7.8%) corresponded to the major orders in paraprobiotic groups. The properties of paraprobiotics are dependent on the method of inactivation, the intensity of the method employed and on the strain used.