Lactobacillus plantarum PL-02 Supplementation Combined With Resistance Training Improved Muscle Mass, Force, and Exercise Performance in Mice

Abstract

Increasing numbers of researchers are investigating the benefits of probiotics in enhancing exercise performance and verifying the role of the gut–muscle axis. In our previous study, Lactobacillus plantarum PL-02 improved exercise performance and muscle mass. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to investigate whether supplementation with PL-02 combined with resistance training has a synergistic effect on exercise performance and muscle mass. All the animals were assigned into four groups (n = 8/group): a sedentary control with normal distilled water group (vehicle, n = 8); PL-02 supplementation group (PL-02, 2.05 × 109 CFU, n = 8); resistance training group (RT, n = 8); PL-02 supplementation combined with resistance training group (PL-02 + RT, 2.05 × 109 CFU, n = 8). Supplementation with PL-02 for four consecutive weeks combined with resistance exercise training significantly improved the grip strength and the maximum number of crawls; increased the time of exhaustive exercise; significantly reduced the time required for a single climb; and reduced the lactate, blood ammonia, creatine kinase, and blood urea nitrogen produced after exercise (p < 0.05). In addition, it produced substantial benefits for increasing muscle mass without causing any physical damage. In summary, our findings confirmed that PL-02 or RT supplementation alone is effective in improving muscle mass and exercise performance and in reducing exercise fatigue, but the combination of the two can achieve increased benefits.

The Improvement and Related Mechanism of Microecologics on the Sports Performance and Post-Exercise Recovery of Athletes: A Narrative Review

“…With the further expansion of research, scientists have developed an intervention combining exercise and microecologics to validate the interconnection between motor function and gut microbiota [ 67 ]. For instance, supplementation with Lactobacillus plantarum PL-02 combined with resistance training can enhance muscle mass and exercise performance while reducing fatigue-inducing byproducts [ 6 ]. The results of another study investigating the effects of 6 weeks of Lactobacillus plantarum TWK10 supplementation revealed significant improvements in muscle mass and handgrip strength compared to the placebo group [ 68 ].…”

Dietary Polysaccharides Exert Anti-Fatigue Functions via the Gut-Muscle Axis: Advances and Prospectives

“…To date, since few direct studies have explored the treatment of exercise fatigue by dietary polysaccharide mediation of the gut-muscle axis, such a summary will be helpful to gain insight into fatigue treatments ( Figure 4 ). A growing number of researchers are investigating the benefits of probiotics in improving exercise performance and validating the role of the gut-muscle axis [ 143 , 144 ] by considering the bacteria species associated with the this axis, such as Bifidobacteria , Lactobacillus , Faecalibacterium prausnitzii , Escherichia coli , etc. [ 24 , 28 , 145 ].…”

Effect of Lactobacillus plantarum BFS1243 on a female frailty model induced by fecal microbiota transplantation in germ-free mice

“…This strain, Lactobacillus plantarum, not only inhibits pathogenic bacteria, including Shigella spp., Escherichia coli, and Salmonella spp., but also modulates pro-inflammatory responses, improves muscle dysfunction, and enhances skeletal muscle mass and function, as demonstrated in both human and animal studies. [22][23][24][25][26] In our study, we explored the effects of a novel probiotic, Lactobacillus plantarum BFS1243, derived from kefir-a fermented milk product containing complex microbiota known as 'kefir grains'. Our approach involved conducting FMT from both frailty patients and healthy elderly individuals into GF mice.…”