Probiotics consumption has been associated with various health promoting benefits, including disease prevention and even treatment by modulating gut microbiota. Contrary to this, probiotics may also overstimulate the immune system, trigger systemic infections, harmful metabolic activities, and promote gene transfer. In children, the fragile immune system and impaired intestinal barrier may boost the occurrence of adverse effects following probiotics' consumption. To overcome these health challenges, the key focus has been shifted toward non-viable probiotics, also called paraprobiotics. Cell wall polysaccharides, peptidoglycans, surface proteins and teichoic acid present on cell's surface are involved in the interaction of paraprobiotics with the host, ultimately providing health benefits. Among other benefits, paraprobiotics possess the ability to regulate innate and adaptive immunity, exert anti-adhesion, anti-biofilm, anti-hypertensive, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anti-proliferative, and antagonistic effects against pathogens, while also enhance clinical impact and general safety when administered in children in comparison to probiotics. Clinical evidence have underlined the paraprobiotics impact in children and young infants against atopic dermatitis, respiratory and gastrointestinal infections, in addition to be useful for immunocompromised individuals. Therefore, this review focuses on probiotics-related issues in children's health and also discusses the Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium spp. qualities for qualifying as paraprobiotics and their role in promoting the children's health.

Department of Chemistry Faculty of Science University of Hradec Kralove Hradec Kralove Czech Republic

Department of Medicine Biomedicine Faculty of Medicine University of Porto Porto Portugal

Institute for Research and Innovation in Health University of Porto Porto Portugal

Institute of Research and Advanced Training in Health Sciences and Technologies Rua Central de Gandra Gandra PRD Portugal

School of Bioengineering and Biosciences Lovely Professional University Phagwara Punjab India

School of Bioengineering and Food Technology Shoolini University of Biotechnology and Management Sciences Solan India

School of Biological and Environmental Sciences Shoolini University of Biotechnology and Management Sciences Solan India

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Antioxidative potential of Lactobacillus sp. in ameliorating D-galactose-induced aging