The randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial used the GKK1 strain provided by Taiwan-based Grape King Bio Ltd. Forty eight men were randomly assigned to receive either the probiotic or placebo for four weeks, and then underwent an exercise-induced muscle damage protocol.<\/p>\n
Researchers from several Taiwanese universities and Grape King Bio Ltd reported that, compared with placebo, participants receiving the probiotic had lower levels of post-exercise creatine kinase (CK), myoglobin, hs-CRP (high-sensitivity CRP) and TBARS (Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Substances). These are biomarkers associated with muscle damage, inflammation and oxidative stress.<\/p>\n
Based on their findings and previous research, they suggested the mechanisms of action related to the anti-inflammatory, muscle-protective, metabolic and neuroendocrine effects of the probiotic.<\/p>\n
\u201cThese findings suggest that GKK1 may be a safe nutritional strategy to facilitate functional recovery, attenuate secondary inflammatory responses and modulate urinary markers associated with muscle breakdown following muscle-damaging exercise in healthy young men,\u201d the authors wrote in Nutrients.<\/p>\n
Probiotics for athletics<\/p>\n
Lactobacillus species are among the most abundant beneficial bacteria in the gut microbiome. <\/p>\n
At the same time, interest in probiotics for sports nutrition has grown as evidence suggests certain strains may influence inflammation, recovery and exercise performance through interactions with the gut-muscle axis.<\/p>\n
One study of L. plantarum TWK10<\/a> indicated the strain increases skeletal muscle mass, enhances muscle strength, and improves endurance capacity in both murine models and humans by optimizing energy metabolism and facilitating neuromuscular adaptation.<\/p>\n Further, studies with L. plantarum PS128 indicate the strain expedites exercise-capacity recovery<\/a> following half-marathon, and attenuates muscle damage, oxidative stress, and systemic inflammatory responses<\/a> in endurance athletes.<\/p>\n Prior research indicates L. plantarum GKK1 contains genetic features linked to immune regulation and anti-inflammatory activity, including pathways involved in nitric oxide production and the stimulation of immune signaling molecules. <\/p>\n These characteristics suggest the probiotic could help reduce inflammation and support recovery from exercise-induced muscle damage, although evidence from human trials remains limited.<\/p>\n The study<\/p>\n A total of 48 healthy, sedentary adult male participants were randomly assigned to either the placebo group (n = 24) or the GKK1 group (n = 24).<\/p>\n After the four week intervention, they attended the lab where they underwent a standardized, high-intensity plyometric protocol consisting of 100 maximal vertical jumps.<\/p>\n Countermovement jump (CMJ) assessments, isometric mid-thigh pull (IMTP) assessments, and the 30 s Wingate Anaerobic Test (WAnT) were systematically implemented at baseline as well as at 3, 24, and 48 h post-EIMD.<\/p>\n Blood samples were collected pre-EIMD and 3 h, 24 h, and 48 h post-EIMD to assess muscle damage and inflammation biomarkers, including CK, myoglobin, and hs-CRP. Endocrine and stress-related biomarkers including testosterone, cortisol, and dopamine.<\/p>\n Researchers additionally took urine samples to assess markers of muscle protein degradation.<\/p>\n Resulting data indicated, compared with placebo, the intervention led to smaller post -exercise decrements in countermovement jump (CMJ) rate of force development, relative peak force, jump height, IMTP relative peak force and peak RFD, and Wingate anaerobic performance. <\/p>\n GKK1 appeared to attenuate increases in CK and myoglobin, as well as hs-CRP and TBARS. <\/p>\n Blood sample analysis further indicated the intervention was associated with a more favorable stress response, as indicated by testosterone, HGH, catecholamine, and dopamine responses. <\/p>\n \u201cGKK1 supplementation significantly mitigated the severe exercise-induced depletion of serum dopamine observed in the placebo group while attenuating acute adrenaline spikes,\u201d the report said.<\/p>\n Inferring a mechanism of action via the biomarker changes, the researchers suggested GKK1 reduced post-exercise fatigue and muscle damage through a combination of anti-inflammatory, muscle-protective, metabolic and neuroendocrine effects.<\/p>\n The authors noted several limitations, including the limited demographic represented, the short intervention period, and the lack of gut microbiome analysis. <\/p>\n