Lactobacillus plantarum TWK10 Improves Muscle Mass and Functional Performance in Frail Older Adults: A Randomized, Double-Blind Clinical Trial

Abstract

Sarcopenia is a condition in which there is a loss of muscle caused by aging and it is one of the most significant factors that affects physical fragility. In recent years, the role of the gut–muscle axis has garnered attention as, along with the gut microbiota, it potentially plays a significant role in muscle regeneration, in addition to nutritional supplements and exercise training. Past studies have found that supplementation with Lactobacillus plantarum TWK10 could effectively increase the muscle mass of animals or adult humans. Therefore, in this study, we investigated whether the supplementation of L. plantarum TWK10 produces increased muscle mass and improves the functional performance of elderly persons with mild fragility. A total of 68 elderly subjects were recruited, of which 13 subjects were excluded or withdrew from the study. We adopted a double-blind design, and the 55 subjects were randomly divided into three groups: the placebo group, the TWK10 low-dose group (2 × 1010 CFU/day) (TWK10-L), and the TWK10 high-dose group (6 × 1010 colony-forming unit (CFU)/day) (TWK10-H). For 18 weeks, all subjects were required to regularly take experimental samples, perform functional activity testing, and have their body composition analyzed before the study and every six weeks after the intervention. Finally, 17 subjects in the placebo group, 12 subjects in the TWK10-L group, and 13 subjects in the TWK10-H group finished the study. It was found that supplementation with TWK10 had a tendency to increase and improve muscle mass, left hand grip strength, lower limb muscle strength, and gait speed and balance after the sixth week, especially in the TWK10-H group, and, as the supplement time was longer up to the 18th week, it had an even greater effect (p < 0.05). In conclusion, consecutive supplementation of L. plantarum TWK10 for more than six weeks could effectively improve the muscle strength and endurance of the elderly, reducing sarcopenia and physical fragility. This trial was registered at clinicaltrials.gov as NCT04893746.

Lacticaseibacillus casei CNCM I-5663 supplementation maintained muscle mass in a model of frail rodents

“…There is even less research examining how probiotic supplementation impacts muscle mass and function in elderly humans. The single study performed to date found that Lactobacillus plantarum TWK10 had beneficial effects on muscle mass and strength in frail elderly people ( 74 ). Our study has confirmed that microbiota-based treatments could help limit sarcopenia in this population.…”

Impact of probiotics on muscle mass, muscle strength and lean mass: a systematic review and meta‐analysis of randomized controlled trials

“…60 Twenty-two studies were double-blind RCTs, [37][38][39][40][41][42][43][44][45][46][47][49][50][51][52][53][54][55][56][57][58]60 of which one was crossover double-blind RCT, 37 one was a single-blind RCT 48 and one was nonblinded. 59 Twelve studies provided probiotics in adults aged 50 years and above, 38,41,43,[47][48][49][50]54,[57][58][59][60] whereas 12 studies in adults below 50 years of age. 37,39,40,42,[44][45][46][51][52][53]55,56 Eight studies were conducted in adults with o...…”

“…59 Twelve studies provided probiotics in adults aged 50 years and above, 38,41,43,[47][48][49][50]54,[57][58][59][60] whereas 12 studies in adults below 50 years of age. 37,39,40,42,[44][45][46][51][52][53]55,56 Eight studies were conducted in adults with overweight and/or obesity, [42][43][44][45][46]49,50,56 seven in untrained and non-athletic healthy populations, 37,40,41,51,54,55,59 one in resistance-trained individuals, 53 one in individuals with metabolic syndrome and type 2 diabetes 48 or hypertension, 60 one in people with frailty, 38 one in people with low bone mineral density, 58 one in patients with chronic heart failure, 57 one in participants with non-displaced distal radius fracture, 47…”

Safety Assessment of Lactiplantibacillus plantarum TWK10 Based on Whole-Genome Sequencing, Phenotypic, and Oral Toxicity Analysis

“…We have previously demonstrated that the administration of Lactiplantibacillus plantarum TWK10 (TWK10) exerted beneficial effects on improving exercise performance, increasing muscle mass and strength in both mice and humans, and attenuating ageassociated cognitive decline and loss of bone mass in mice. We further found that long-term TWK10 administration did not result in significant histological changes in the organs of mice or alterations in hematological and biochemical parameters in humans [19][20][21][22]. In this study, we comprehensively assessed the safety of TWK10 as a probiotic for human consumption using both in vitro and in vivo approaches.…”