Effectiveness of human-origin Lactobacillus plantarum PL-02 in improving muscle mass, exercise performance and anti-fatigue

Abstract

Gut microbiota is very important for energy metabolism and regulation, which in turn affect the health and physiological functions of the host, and provide energy required for exercise. Supplementation with probiotics may be one of the ways to change the gut microbiota. In recent years, many studies have shown that probiotic supplementation can effectively improve sports performance. In this study, we screened Lactobacillus plantarum (PL-02), a probiotic of human-origin, from the intestines of 2008 Olympic women's 48 kg weightlifting gold medalist and explored the role of PL-02 in improved exercise endurance performance, reduced fatigue biochemical parameters, and changes in body composition. Male Institute of Cancer Research (ICR) mice were assigned to 0, 2.05 × 10⁹, 4.10 × 10⁹ and 1.03 × 10¹⁰ CFU/kg/day groups and were fed by oral gavage once daily for 4 weeks. The results showed that 4 weeks of PL-02 supplementation could significantly increase muscle mass, muscle strength and endurance performance, and hepatic and muscular glycogen storage. Furthermore, PL-02 could significantly decrease lactate, blood urea nitrogen (BUN), ammonia, and creatine kinase (CK) levels after exercise (p < 0.05). We believe that PL-02 can be used as a supplement to improve exercise performance and for its anti-fatigue effect.

Figure 1

Effect of 4 weeks of PL-02 supplementation on (a) absolute forelimb grip strength, (b) forelimb grip strength (%) relative to body weight and (c) exhaustive swim time. Data are expressed as mean ± SD for n = 10 mice per group. Different superscript letters (a, b, c, d) indicate significant difference at p < 0.05.

Figure 2

Effect of 4 weeks PL-02 supplementation on (a) NH₃ and (b) glucose, (c) BUN and (d) CK. Data are expressed as mean ± SD for n = 10 mice per group. Different superscript letters (a, b, c) indicate significant difference at p < 0.05.

Figure 3

Effect of 4 weeks PL-02 supplementation on (a) liver glycogen and (b) muscle glycogen. Data are expressed as mean ± SD for n = 10 mice per group. Different superscript letters (a, b, c, d) indicate significant difference at p < 0.05.

Figure 4

Effect of PL-02 supplementation on (a) liver, (b) muscle, (c) quadricep muscles, (d) heart, (e) kidney, (f) lung, (g) adipocyte tissue, and (h) BAT tissue in mice. (H&E stain, magnification: × 200; bar, 40 μm; BAT magnification: 100 × ; bar, 80 μm).

Figure 5

Effect of PL-02 supplementation on (a) alpha diversity, (b) beta diversity, (c) phylum, (d) genus, (e) Lactobacillus plantarum % hits, (f) Akkermansia muciniphila. % hits, (g) Blautia coccoides % hits, and (h) Pedobacter kwangyangensis % hits. Data are expressed as mean ± SD for n = 8 mice per group. Values with different superscript letters are significantly different at *p < 0.05; **p < 0.01; ***p < 0.0001.