What is "Alpha-Glucan Oligosaccharide" and what is its purpose?

From a chemical perspective, thealpha-glucan oligosaccharide is a complex sugar or oligomer composed solely of glucose itself having a degree of polymerisation of 2 - 10 units. Alpha and beta-glucans differ in the type of bond that links the molecules together.

Like most sugars, alpha-glucan oligosaccharide is primarily extracted from plants, particularly from chicory roots. However, it can also be obtained through chemical synthesis. In both the food industry and the field of skin and hair care, this complex sugar is used as a prebiotic : it nourishes the good bacteria and inhibits the growth of the bad ones.

The term microbiota thus refers to thecollection of non-pathogenic microorganisms (bacteria, fungi, viruses, parasites), known as commensals (bacteria that are beneficial to the body), housed in a specific environment, the microbiome. The human microbiota harbours millions of microorganisms. Within the body, there are different microbiotas: in the skin, mouth, vagina, male sexual organs, lungs, and so on.

Thanks to their antimicrobial properties, these "good" bacteria enable the body to protect and defend itself against invasive pathogens. Conversely, the "bad" bacteria invade the body and can damage cells and/or induce inflammation. However, they are also essential to our body, as they stimulate our immune defences. A healthy microbiota results from a balance between these "good" and "bad" bacteria. For instance, excessive use of antibacterial soaps can disrupt the skin microbiota, which can lead to redness and/or irritation; this is referred to as dysbiosis.

Note : The skin microbiome varies from one person to another. It depends on factors such as age, lifestyle, gender, skin pH, and so on...