The effects of postexercise consumption of a kefir beverage on performance and recovery during intensive endurance training

Abstract

This study was designed to determine whether kefir accentuates the positive health benefits assessed by measures in fitness, body composition, or both, as a measure of cardiovascular disease risk as well as the biomarker C-reactive protein (CRP). Sixty-seven adult males and females aged 18 to 24 yr were assigned to 1 of 4 groups: (1) endurance training + control beverage, (2) endurance training +kefir beverage,(3) active control + control beverage, or (4) active control + kefir beverage. The exercise groups completed 15 wk of structured endurancetraining while the active control groups maintained their usual exercise routine. Additionally, each group was assigned to either a kefir or a calorie/macronutrient matched placebo beverage that was consumed twice per week. No significant interactions were found among groups with respect to outcome variables with the exception of serum CRP. The endurance training was effective in improving 1.5-mile (2.41 km) times and kefir supplementation may have been a factor in attenuating the increase in CRP that was observed over the course of the intervention period. This preliminary study suggests that kefir may be involved in improving the risk profile for cardiovascular disease as defined by CRP.

Endurance exercise and gut microbiota: A review

“… O'Brien et al. 106 2015 67 Active individuals were randomly assigned to 1 of the 4 groups: (i) endurance training + control beverage, (ii) endurance training + kefir beverage, (iii) active control + control beverage, or (iv) active control + kefir beverage. The exercise groups completed 15 weeks of structured endurance training while the active control groups maintained their usual exercise routine.…”

Mutual Interactions among Exercise, Sport Supplements and Microbiota

“…Among the most popular probiotics, kefir (KF), a drink rich in lactic ferments obtained from the fermentation of milk, has been proposed against hypertension, GI diseases, allergies, ischemic heart disease [164,165], fatigue and fatigue-related metabolites [166,167], and exercise-induced immune suppression [168]. KF is able to lower plasma lactate, ammonia, and creatine kinase (CK) levels, increasing the exercise performance and counteracting physical fatigue in mice [169], altering gut microbiota composition.…”

Kefir Supplementation Modifies Gut Microbiota Composition, Reduces Physical Fatigue, and Improves Exercise Performance in Mice

“…Long-term fatigue is easily causing aging, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection, depression, Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis, and cancers [ 15 ]. Therefore, many researchers are interested in the use of kefir, herbal medicines, natural compounds, dietary foods, or exercise equipment technology to delay fatigue and accelerate the elimination of fatigue-related metabolites [ 16 , 17 , 18 ]. The fermented milk product was effective in reducing the impact of exercise-induced immune suppression [ 19 ].…”