Effects of probiotic supplementation on 12 min run performance, mood management, body composition and gut microbiota in amateur marathon runners: A double-blind controlled trial

Although the exact processes are yet unknown, probiotic administration has been demonstrated to improve athletes’ body composition and endurance performance. Athletes’ gut microbiota can offer quantifiable indicators of immunological function, and microbial composition analysis may aid in the identification of exercise-induced stress and metabolic problems. In this double-blind controlled trial by Want et al. (2024), 19 healthy, active amateur marathon runners (15 men and 4 women) with an average age of 29.11 years took part. Based on how well they performed on the Cooper 12-minute running test (CRT), participants were split into two groups. One group received a probiotic formulation containing Lactobacillus acidophilus and Bifidobacterium longum (n = 10), while the other received a placebo containing maltodextrin (n = 9) for five weeks. Diet and exercise consistency were maintained throughout the study. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was used to assess the participants’ CRT, gastrointestinal symptoms, mental stability, body composition, gut microbiota composition, and skeletal muscle microcirculation before and after the intervention. The CRT score, gastrointestinal symptoms (GSRS), and quality of life (GIQLI) ratings all significantly improved in the probiotic group. In contrast, these indicators did not change significantly in the control group. Additionally, the probiotics group had beneficial alterations in MRI measures of skeletal muscle metabolic cycling in the thigh. Following the intervention, the probiotics group likewise showed a notable rise in the number of good bacteria and a fall in the number of bad bacteria. Probiotics, as a sports nutritional supplement, have the potential to enhance athletic performance by optimizing gut microbiota balance and alleviating gastrointestinal symptoms. [NPID: Exercise performance, probiotic supplements, magnetic resonance, mood management]

Year: 2024

Reference: Wang, L., Meng, F.-J., Jin, Y.-H., Wu, L.-Q., Tang, R.-Y., Xu, K.-H., Guo, Y., Mao, J.-J., Ding, J.-P., & Li, J. (2024). Effects of probiotic supplementation on 12 min run performance, mood management, body composition and gut microbiota in amateur marathon runners: A double-blind controlled trial. Journal of Exercise Science & Fitness, 22(4), 297–304. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jesf.2024.04.004

Related Studies

The power of psychobiotics in Depression: A modern approach through the Microbiota–Gut–Brain Axis: A literature review

The microbiota-gut-brain (MGB) axis represents an intricate network linking the microbiota, gut, and brain, influencing various aspects of health and disease. An imbalance in the gut microbiome, known as dysbiosis, can profoundly affect the MGB axis, leading to changes in microbial composition and function. Recent evidence underscores the link between microbiota changes and neurological and […]

The importance of diet and gut health to the treatment and prevention of mental disorders

While the world is becoming increasingly reliant on highly processed, poor quality foods with links to increased mental disorder risk, Dawson et al. (2016) point out there is evidence that nutrient-rich diet provides protection for mental health, and that the microbiota in the gut is believed to be the key mediator of this relationship. This […]