Bisphenol A (BPA) is widely used in the production of plastic materials. However, there have recently been concerns about its toxicity in humans, leading to the European Union banning its use in food containers.

BPA has been shown to impair sperm function, in part through increased generation of reactive oxygen species—highly reactive molecules that can damage cellular components. As this charged oxygen can be counteracted with antioxidants, researchers at Osaka Metropolitan University (OMU) have been investigating specific compounds that counteract oxidative stress.

A promising source is paraprobiotics, a new class of supplements that are based on heat-treated bacterial cells. The heat makes the bacteria unable to reproduce but doesn’t destroy the cell structures that stimulate the immune system and gut, making them biologically active yet safe to consume.