Effects of Ingesting Food Containing Heat-Killed Lactococcus lactis Strain Plasma on Fatigue and Immune-Related Indices after High Training Load: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled, and Parallel-Group Study

Abstract

Lactococcus lactis strain Plasma (LC-Plasma) is a unique lactic acid bacterium that activates plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDCs). We evaluated the effect of LC-Plasma on fatigue indices and dendritic cells activity in athletes after 14 days’ continuous exercise load. Thirty-seven participants were divided into two groups and consumed placebo (PL) or LC-Plasma capsules (containing 100 billion cells) daily for 14 days. Maturation markers on dendritic cells, blood parameters, physiological indices, and fatigue-related indices were recorded on days 1 and 15 (before and after exercise). Cumulative days of symptoms relating to physical conditions were also recorded during the continuous exercise period. We observed that CD86 as a maturation marker on pDCs was significantly higher and that cumulative days of fatigue were significantly fewer in the LC-Plasma group than in the Placebo group on day 15. We also conducted 2 h ergometer exercise on day 15 to evaluate fatigue. The results showed that autonomic fatigue parameters (LF/HF) were significantly lower in the LC-Plasma group. These results suggest that LC-Plasma supplementation alleviates fatigue accumulation and increases pDC activity caused by a continuous high training load.

It’s Dead! Can Postbiotics Really Help Performance and Recovery? A Systematic Review

“…Following this, Komano and investigators [ 65 ] conducted another investigation in which they divided 37 participants into two groups who took either a placebo or capsules containing 1.0 × 10 11 cells of Lactococcus lactis JCM 5805 for 14 days while continually exercising. Blood samples were collected to evaluate changes in immune activity (CD86 from plasmacytoid dendritic cells, pDCs), and fatigue was assessed before, throughout, and following the supplementation regimen.…”

“…The Sawada et al [ 39 ], Komano et al [ 58 , 65 ], and Sashirara [ 64 ] studies all utilized cohorts of competitive athletes and demonstrated the ability of postbiotics to help offset fatigue, illness, infection, and negative changes in mood and depression. Collectively, these results are particularly valuable as the current postbiotic and sports literature has yet to fully examine the ability of postbiotics to support immune system health across an entire training year.…”