The Consumption of a Synbiotic Does Not Affect the Immune, Inflammatory, and Sympathovagal Parameters in Athletes and Sedentary Individuals: A Triple-Blinded, Randomized, Place-bo-Controlled Pilot Study

Abstract

This investigation aimed to identify the effect of a synbiotic in athletes and sedentary people, and their potential varying responses regarding the immune system, autonomic regulation and body composition. Twenty-seven participants were involved in the protocol: 14 sedentary and 13 semi-professional soccer players. Both groups were randomly divided into an experimental and control group. A synbiotic (Gasteel Plus®®, Heel España S.A.U.) comprising a blend of probiotic strains, including Bifidobacterium lactis CBP-001010, Lactobacillus rhamnosus CNCM I-4036, and Bifidobacterium longum ES1, was administered to the experimental group, and a placebo was given to the control group for 30 days. Heart rate variability, body composition, and immune/inflammatory cytokines were determined. Statistically significant differences were observed between sedentary individuals and athletes in heart rate variability but not between the experimental and control groups. A difference between the athletic and sedentary group is observed with the influence of training on the effects of the synbiotic on the levels of fat mass and body-fold sum. No significant differences were shown in cytokines after the protocol study. No changes occur with the synbiotic treatment between the athlete and sedentary groups, while no negative effect was produced. Further research will be necessary to see chronic effects in the analyzed biomarkers.

Effects of Probiotic Supplementation on Immune and Inflammatory Markers in Athletes: A Meta-Analysis of Randomized Clinical Trials

“…Five of the selected RCTs lasted 4 weeks (30 days) [21,[23][24][25][26], one RCT lasted 8 weeks [27], and three RCTs lasted from 11 to 12 weeks (90 days) [8,20,22]. Sticks, capsules, sachets, or fermented milk were consumed once or twice per day during the supplementation period.…”

“…A study reported that the consumption of a symbiotic bacterium did not affect immuneand inflammation-related markers in athletes [25]. Pugh et al indicated that the IL-6, IL-8, and IL-10 levels were not significantly different before or after the race between the placebo and probiotic groups, although athletes self-reported lower incidence and severity of gastrointestinal tract symptoms [23].…”

“…Probiotics mainly serve as supplements [19] containing multiple species (e.g., Bacillus subtilis, Bifidobacterium bifidum, Bifidobacterium breve, Bifidobacterium lactis, Bifidobacterium longum ES1, Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis, Enterococcus faecium W54, Lactobacillus acidophilus, Lactobacillus brevis W63, Lactobacillus casei, Lactobacillus fermentum, Lactobacillus helveticus, Lactococcus lactis, Lactobacillus paracasei, Lactobacillus plantarum TWK10, Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG, Lactobacillus salivarius, and Streptococcus thermophilus) and are usually prepared in the form of capsules [8,[20][21][22][23], powder sticks [24,25], sachets [26], and fermented drinks [27].…”

“…Scholars have reported inconsistent results. Several studies have reported no significant change after probiotic supplementation [20,23,25]. By contrast, some studies demonstrated that the TNF-α level was lower in both sexes after probiotic supplementation [22] and observed a significantly decreased IL-6 level and increased IL-10 level in a probiotic group compared with a placebo group [21].…”

Beneficial effects of the probiotics and synbiotics supplementation on anthropometric indices and body composition in adults: A systematic review and meta‐analysis

“…The general characteristics of the included studies are outlined in Table S4. Trials were published between 1996 and 2023, and were carried out in Asia, 12,27–31,77–81,84–229 Europe, 230–262 America,…”