Lactobacillus plantarum PS128 Improves Physiological Adaptation and Performance in Triathletes through Gut Microbiota Modulation

Abstract

A triathlon is an extremely high-intensity exercise and a challenge for physiological adaptation. A triathlete’s microbiome might be modulated by diet, age, medical treatments, lifestyle, and exercise, thereby maintaining aerobiosis and optimum health and performance. Probiotics, prebiotics, and synbiotics have been reported to have health-promoting activities (e.g., immunoregulation and cancer prevention). However, few studies have addressed how probiotics affect the microbiota of athletes and how this translates into functional activities. In our previous study, we found that Lactobacillus plantarum PS128 could ameliorate inflammation and oxidative stress, with improved exercise performance. Thus, here we investigate how the microbiota of triathletes are altered by L. plantarum PS128 supplementation, not only for exercise performance but also for possible physiological adaptation. The triathletes were assigned to two groups: an L. plantarum 128 supplement group (LG, 3 × 1010 colony-forming units (CFU)/day) and a placebo group (PG). Both groups continued with their regular exercise training for the next 4 weeks. The endurance performance, body composition, biochemistries, blood cells, microbiota, and associated metabolites were further investigated. PS128 significantly increased the athletes’ endurance, by about 130% as compared to the PG group, but there was no significant difference in maximal oxygen consumption (VO2max) and composition between groups. The PS128 supplementation (LG) modulated the athlete’s microbiota with both significant decreases (Anaerotruncus, Caproiciproducens, Coprobacillus, Desulfovibrio, Dielma, Family_XIII, Holdemania, and Oxalobacter) and increases (Akkermansia, Bifidobacterium, Butyricimonas, and Lactobacillus), and the LG showed lower diversity when compared to the PG. Also, the short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs; acetate, propionate, and butyrate) of the LG were significantly higher than the PG, which might be a result of a modulation of the associated microbiota. In conclusion, PS128 supplementation was associated with an improvement on endurance running performance through microbiota modulation and related metabolites, but not in maximal oxygen uptake.

Interactions between gut microbiota and skeletal muscle

“… 63 In addition, L. plantarum PS128 improved endurance running performance in triathletes, an effect which was associated with changes in the microbiota composition and higher levels of SCFAs acetate, propionate, and butyrate. 64 In line with this, depletion of GM using antibiotics was recently associated with decreased muscle capacity, notably in link with an alteration of glucose homeostasis regulatory pathways 65 , 66 ( Table 2 ).…”

Microbiome Analysis Reveals the Attenuation Effect of Lactobacillus From Yaks on Diarrhea via Modulation of Gut Microbiota

“…Multiple measures have been performed to prevent diarrhea, but it still occurs from time to time. Recently, role of gut microbiota is revealed in the development of diarrhea ( Huang et al., 2020 ). Therefore, the improvement of the intestinal microbial community structure may contribute to alleviate diarrhea ( Yue et al., 2019 ).…”

“…The importance of probiotics including Lactobacillus johnsonii , Bacillus subtilis , and Pediococcus acidilactici have been proverbially acknowledged because of their effects as potential antibacterial, immunity, and production enhancing performances ( Li et al., 2018 ; Wang et al., 2018a ; Khan, 2019 ; Li et al., 2019b ). Moreover, Lactobacillus can alleviate bacterial diarrhea by competing with pathogenic bacteria for adhesion sites and nutrients, producing antimicrobial peptides, and improving gut microbiota ( Sadowska et al., 2010 ; Huang et al., 2020 ; Wang et al., 2020 ). The probiotic effect of Lactobacillus has been understood and applied in chicken and other domestic animals.…”

Health-Promoting Role of Lactiplantibacillus plantarum Isolated from Fermented Foods

“…plantarum strains, ( Lpb. plantarum P8 and PS128) has been observed in an emerging research field aiming to investigate the role of probiotics in exercise physiology and endurance performance [ 199 , 200 , 201 , 203 , 204 ]. Huang and coworkers reported a clear alleviation of exercise-induced inflammation with enhanced exercise performance in triathletes, suggesting a potential ergogenic role of Lpb.…”