Impact of Probiotics on the Performance of Endurance Athletes: A Systematic Review

Abstract

Background: Probiotic supplements contain different strains of living microorganisms that promote the health of the host. These dietary supplements are increasingly being used by athletes to improve different aspects such as athletic performance, upper respiratory tract infections (URTIs), the immune system, oxidative stress, gastrointestinal (GI) problems, etc. This study aimed to identify the current evidence on the management of probiotics in endurance athletes and their relationship with sports performance. Methods: A systematic review of the last five years was carried out in PubMed, Scopus, Web of science, Sportdiscus and Embase databases. Results: Nine articles met the quality criteria. Of these, three reported direct benefits on sports performance. The remaining six articles found improvements in the reduction of oxidative stress, increased immune response and decreased incidence of URTIs. There is little scientific evidence on the direct relationship between the administration of probiotics in endurance athletes and sports performance. Conclusions: Benefits were found that probiotics could indirectly influence sports performance by improving other parameters such as the immune system, response to URTIs and decreased oxidative stress, as well as the monitoring of scheduled workouts.

In vitro assessment of the probiotic properties of an industrial preparation containing Lacticaseibacillus paracasei in the context of athlete health

“…Increasing attention is given to the use of probiotic supplements to protect from the undesirable physiological changes that may be induced by strenuous physical activity. According to the available scientific literature, the effectiveness of Frontiers in Pharmacology frontiersin.org probiotic supplementation in athletes can is associated with improved gut-barrier-function, the attenuation of inflammatory responses, and the improvement of the epithelial antioxidant status after exhaustive exercise (Marttinen et al, 2020;Diaz-Jimenez et al, 2021). Thus, in a recent consensus document, the International Society of Sports Nutrition (ISSN) stated that certain probiotics may reduce URTIs and improve the integrity of the gut-barrier function in athletes (Jäger et al, 2019).…”

“…Several nutritional strategies have been proposed to treat or prevent the detrimental effects of physical activity, such as consuming beverages containing multiple transportable carbohydrates, limiting/avoiding fiber and solid foods hours/days before exercise, or supplementing the diet with vitamin C, D and E ( Rowlands et al, 2012 ; Waterman and Kapur, 2012 ; De Oliveira et al, 2014 ; Cicchella et al, 2021 ), and antioxidants ( Peake et al, 2007 ; Bowtell and Kelly, 2019 ). Supplementation with probiotics ( Diaz-Jimenez et al, 2021 ; Tavakoly et al, 2021 ), “live microorganisms that, when administered in adequate amounts, confer a health benefit on the host” ( Hill et al, 2014 ), plays an important role in maintaining normal physiology during exercise and to manage the adverse effects of those physically active. Reportedly, probiotics can positively influence human health principally by affecting the intestinal microbial ecosystem, regulating the activity of the gut-associated lymphoid tissue (GALT), and modulating the gene expression in the intestinal mucosa, so contributing to gut barrier preservation (i.e., reducing gut permeability), immune homeostasis promotion, and gut motility restoration ( Dimidi et al, 2017 ; Ibrahim et al, 2020 ).…”

The Current Scenario Regarding the Narrative Advancement of Oral Cancer

“…Early detection is essential because cancer treatments may be more effective and involve fewer complications. Tobacco, smokeless tobacco [42][43][44] Probiotics [45] Alcohol consumption Chemoprevention…”

Knowledge and consumption frequency of probiotics and fermented foods in elite volleyball players-A pilot study

“…Probiotic supplements and fermented foods have become popular due to their nutraceutical benefits. Probiotics as dietary supplements are increasingly being preferred by athletes to have benefits on athletic performance, upper respiratory tract infections, the immune system, oxidative stress, and gastrointestinal problems [5].…”