Supplementation with Saccharomyces boulardii Increases the Maximal Oxygen Consumption and Maximal Aerobic Speed Attained by Rats Subjected to an Incremental-Speed Exercise

Abstract

Benefits to the host metabolism resulting from Saccharomyces boulardii (Sb) supplementation have been described; however, no study has investigated the effects of this supplementation on aerobic metabolism and performance during physical exercise. Thus, in the present study, we addressed the effects of Sb supplementation on the rate of oxygen consumption (VO2), mechanical efficiency (external work divided by VO2), and aerobic performance of rats subjected to fatiguing, incremental-speed exercise. Twenty-six male Wistar rats were randomly divided into two groups: (1) non-supplemented, in which rats received 0.1 mL of a saline solution, and (2) Sb-supplemented, in which rats received 0.1 mL of a suspension containing 8.0 log10 colony-forming units. The rats received the treatments by gavage for 10 consecutive days; they were then subjected to fatiguing treadmill running. Sb supplementation did not change the VO2 values or mechanical efficiency during submaximal exercise intensities. In contrast, at fatigue, VO2MAX was increased by 12.7% in supplemented rats compared with controls (p = 0.01). Moreover, Sb improved aerobic performance, as evidenced by a 12.4% increase in maximal running speed attained by the supplemented rats (p < 0.05). We conclude that Sb supplementation for 10 days increases VO2MAX and aerobic performance in rats.

Mutual Interactions among Exercise, Sport Supplements and Microbiota

“…The previously described results of Scheiman et al [60] on Veillonella effects on athletic results can suggest a possible use of these strains as a supplement to improve performance. In a similar direction, Soares et al [163] recently highlighted the benefits to the host metabolism resulting from Saccaharomyces boulardii (Sb) supplementation. In this study, the authors evaluated the effect of Sb supplementation on the rate of oxygen consumption (VO 2 ), mechanical efficiency, and aerobic performance of Wistar rats subjected to fatiguing, incremental-speed exercise, and found that supplemental Sb does not affect resting aerobic metabolism, but significantly increases VO 2 max and aerobic performance.…”

A Review of the Role of the Gut Microbiome in Personalized Sports Nutrition

“…Common probiotic bacteria used were strains of Lactobacillus or Bifidobacterium (133,134,(136)(137)(138)(139)147). Additional strains tested included those belonging to species Bacillus subtillis (140) or Bacillus coagulans (135), Veillonella atypica (141), or even yeast Saccharomyces boulardii (142). The majority of studies investigated the effect of probiotic supplementation on aerobic exercise performance measures such as run time-to-fatigue, VO 2max , max speed attained, 10yard sprint, or 400-meter swim time (132-134, 136, 138, 139, 141, 142).…”

“…In addition to performance variables, many of these studies investigated effects on body composition and inflammation. Again, results were mixed, with some studies reporting significant effects of supplementation on outcomes such as fat mass and muscle mass (132,133) or inflammatory markers (133,137,139,141,147), though results were often mixed with some biochemical markers showing no significant effect of probiotic treatment and some studies showing no significant effects at all on these outcomes (134,142). However, as none of these variables were analyzed, further research is necessary to determine the mechanism of the effects as well as whether the same effects are seen in humans.…”

“…These studies suggest that there may be an effect of the gut microbiome on exercise performance via mechanisms such as SCFA availability, muscle glycogen content, antioxidant enzyme activity, gastrointestinal permeability, and lactate metabolism (Figure 4). Additional speculative mechanisms may involve alterations in substrate utilization (142) as well as glycogen metabolism and storage (150), changes in neural function (142), as well as immune modulation (142) or cross-talk between the gut microbiome and mitochondria in energy production and inflammation (45). The gut microbiota has been hypothesized to impact skeletal muscle physiology and function via metabolites such as SCFAs, folate, tryptophan, glycine betaine, vitamins B 2 and B 12 , and urolithins that may act through various pathways such as stimulation of insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1), prevention of oxidative stress or inflammation, and promotion of mitochondrial biogenesis (151).…”

Lactobacillus salivarius Subspecies salicinius SA-03 is a New Probiotic Capable of Enhancing Exercise Performance and Decreasing Fatigue

“…In some studies, multiple probiotics were added to increase maximum oxygen uptake, aerobic capacity, training load, and increase physical exertion time, only a few studies point to single-strain probiotic supplementation has produced a significant aerobic performance benefit [27]. Previous studies have shown that supplementation of Saccharomyces boulardii in rats undergoing accelerated exercise increased maximum oxygen consumption by 12.7%, maximum aerobic speed by 12.4%, and running time to fatigue by 21.6%, compared to with sedentary the control group [40]. In our previous study, the Bifidobacterium longum (OLP-01) isolated from a weightlifting gold medalist found that, not only help in fatigue indicators, but also significantly increased 1.77-3.37-fold exercise to exhaustive time by 1X, 2X and 5X dose OLP-01 supplementation for four weeks, in addition, it also has a significant increase in forelimb grip, although there is no significant difference in muscle mass [16].…”