Abstract
Probiotics have immunomodulatory effects. However, little is known about the potential benefit of probiotics on the inflammation subsequent to strenuous exercise. In a double-blind, randomized, placebo controlled, crossover design separated by a 21-day washout, 15 healthy resistance-trained men ingested an encapsulated probiotic Streptococcus (S.) thermophilus FP4 and Bifidobacterium (B.) breve BR03 at 5 bn live cells (AFU) concentration each, or a placebo, daily for 3 weeks prior to muscle-damaging exercise (ClinicalTrials.gov NCT02520583). Isometric strength, muscle soreness, range of motion and girth, and blood interleukin-6 (IL-6) and creatine kinase (CK) concentrations were measured from pre- to 72 h post-exercise. Statistical analysis was via mixed models and magnitude-based inference to the standardized difference. Probiotic supplementation resulted in an overall decrease in circulating IL-6, which was sustained to 48 h post-exercise. In addition, probiotic supplementation likely enhanced isometric average peak torque production at 24 to 72 h into the recovery period following exercise (probiotic–placebo point effect ±90% CI: 24 h, 11% ± 7%; 48 h, 12% ± 18%; 72 h, 8% ± 8%). Probiotics also likely moderately increased resting arm angle at 24 h (2.4% ± 2.0%) and 48 h (1.9% ± 1.9%) following exercise, but effects on soreness and flexed arm angle and CK were unclear. These data suggest that dietary supplementation with probiotic strains S. thermophilus FP4 and B. breve BR03 attenuates performance decrements and muscle tension in the days following muscle-damaging exercise.
Highlights
Probiotics, live micro-organisms, demonstrate modulatory effects on pro- (i.e., IL-6) and anti-inflammatory (i.e., IL-10) cytokines [1,2,3]
The principle finding of the current study was that 21 days of probiotic supplementation with S. thermophilus FP4 and B. breve BR03 attenuated performance decrements following a bout of muscle-damaging exercise
Our data show that probiotic supplementation, when not consumed coincident with a protein supplement, attenuates muscle performance decrements, as greater isometric average peak torque was observed relative to the placebo during the several days of recovery following the eccentric lengthening contractions
Summary
Probiotics, live micro-organisms, demonstrate modulatory effects on pro- (i.e., IL-6) and anti-inflammatory (i.e., IL-10) cytokines [1,2,3]. Evidence suggests that the immunomodulatory effects are likely strain-specific [4]. The purported anti-inflammatory effects of probiotics have received considerable attention in the athletic community [5]. Despite that attention, few studies have examined the effect of probiotics in an athletic population. Those studies are limited to Nutrients 2016, 8, 642; doi:10.3390/nu8100642 www.mdpi.com/journal/nutrients. Nutrients 2016, 8, 642 promoting health over the course of training, only indirectly affecting performance. Jäger et al [6]
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