Effects of Probiotics on Anxiety, Stress, Mood and Fitness of Badminton Players.

Razali Mohamed Salleh,Donny Wira Yudha Kusuma,A.M.G.C.P Adikari,Mohd Noorazlan Ab Aziz,Muhammad Syafiq Mohd Razam,Sulaiman Sulaiman,Tandiyo Rahayu,Mohamad Rahizam Abd Rahim,Garry Kuan,Mahenderan Appukutty,Ammu K Radhakrishnan

doi:10.3390/nu13061783

Abstract

Background: Reports of probiotic consumption on athletes’ performance are debatable due to their equivocal results. There is a need for more evidence on the effects of probiotic intake on psychological state and fitness level. Thus, this study determined the effects of daily probiotic consumption on competitive anxiety, perceived stress and mood among university badminton players, besides their fitness like aerobic capacity, strength, speed, leg power and agility. Methods: Thirty university badminton players aged from 19 to 22 years old were randomly divided equally into two groups, where the probiotic group (PG; n = 15) received a drink that contained Lactobacillus casei Shirota (3 × 1010 CFU) and placebo group (CG; n = 15) a placebo drink for six weeks. Anxiety, stress and mood levels were determined using the CSAI-2R, PSS and BRUMS questionnaires, respectively. Fitness levels were measured using by subjecting the players to 20-m shuttle runs (aerobic capacity), handgrips (muscular strength), vertical jumps (leg power), 40-m dash (speed) and T-test (agility). The Student’s t-test (p < 0.05) was used to determine the differences between PG and CG players. Results: After six weeks, the anxiety and stress levels of PG players significantly decreased by 16% (p < 0.001) and 20% (p < 0.001), respectively, but there were no significant changes detected in CG players. Supplementation of probiotics also improved aerobic capacity in PG players by 5.9% (p < 0.001) but did not influence the speed, strength, leg power and agility. Conclusions: Probiotics supplementation showed improved aerobic capacity and relieve anxiety and stress. However, further studies need to be carried out to determine the mechanisms through which probiotic intake produces these effects.

Highlights

Exercise has shown evidence to improve fitness, wellbeing, and health [1]
There were no significant differences in age, weight, height and body mass index (BMI) between groups at pre-intervention
The present study showed that the supplementation of probiotics did not affect the mood of badminton players, which was consistent with the evidence of a previous study by Kelly et al (2017), which reported no influence and change in the mood and serum cortisol level of subjects, respectively, who were exposed to an acute stressor after eight weeks of Lactobacillus rhamnosus supplementation [45]

Summary

Introduction

Exercise has shown evidence to improve fitness, wellbeing, and health [1]. Extreme exercise is associated with psychological distress, as clinical evidence has shown that strenuous training may induce anxiety and stress [4]. There is a need for more evidence on the effects of probiotic intake on psychological state and fitness level. This study determined the effects of daily probiotic consumption on competitive anxiety, perceived stress and mood among university badminton players, besides their fitness like aerobic capacity, strength, speed, leg power and agility. Fitness levels were measured using by subjecting the players to 20-m shuttle runs (aerobic capacity), handgrips (muscular strength), vertical jumps (leg power), 40-m dash (speed) and T-test (agility). Supplementation of probiotics improved aerobic capacity in PG players by 5.9% (p < 0.001) but did not influence the speed, strength, leg power and agility. Further studies need to be carried out to determine the mechanisms through which probiotic intake produces these effects

Methods

Discussion

Conclusion