Four weeks of probiotic supplementation reduces GI symptoms during a marathon race
Open accessAbstract
PURPOSE: To evaluate the effects of probiotic supplementation on gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms, circulatory markers of GI permeability, damage, and markers of immune response during a marathon race. METHODS: Twenty-four recreational runners were randomly assigned to either supplement with a probiotic (PRO) capsule [25 billion CFU Lactobacillus acidophilus (CUL60 and CUL21), Bifidobacterium bifidum (CUL20), and Bifidobacterium animalis subs p. Lactis (CUL34)] or placebo (PLC) for 28 days prior to a marathon race. GI symptoms were recorded during the supplement period and during the race. Serum lactulose:rhamnose ratio, and plasma intestinal-fatty acid binding protein, sCD14, and cytokines were measured pre- and post-races. RESULTS: Prevalence of moderate GI symptoms reported were lower during the third and fourth weeks of the supplement period compared to the first and second weeks in PRO (p < 0.05) but not PLC (p > 0.05). During the marathon, GI symptom severity during the final third was significantly lower in PRO compared to PLC (p = 0.010). The lower symptom severity was associated with a significant difference in reduction of average speed from the first to the last third of the race between PLC (- 14.2 ± 5.8%) and PRO (- 7.9 ± 7.5%) (p = 0.04), although there was no difference in finish times between groups (p > 0.05). Circulatory measures increased to a similar extent between PRO and PLC (p > 0.05). CONCLUSION: Probiotics supplementation was associated with a lower incidence and severity of GI symptoms in marathon runners, although the exact mechanisms are yet to be elucidated. Reducing GI symptoms during marathon running may help maintain running pace during the latter stages of racing.
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Four weeks of supplementation with Lactobacillus acidophilus (CUL60 and CUL21), Bifidobacterium bifidum (CUL20), and Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. Lactis (CUL34) was shown to reduce GI symptoms.
“Recently, 4 weeks of supplementation with Lactobacillus acidophilus (CUL60 and CUL21), Bifidobacterium bifidum (CUL20), and Bifidobacterium animalis subs p. Lactis (CUL34) was shown to reduce GI symptoms, and may be associated with the maintenance of running speed in the latter stages of marathon [147].”
From International Society of Sports Nutrition Position Stand: nutritional considerations for single-stage ultra-marathon training and racing (2019) · cites this paper as [147]
That supplementation may be associated with maintenance of running speed in the latter stages of marathon.
“Recently, 4 weeks of supplementation with Lactobacillus acidophilus (CUL60 and CUL21), Bifidobacterium bifidum (CUL20), and Bifidobacterium animalis subs p. Lactis (CUL34) was shown to reduce GI symptoms, and may be associated with the maintenance of running speed in the latter stages of marathon [147].”
From International Society of Sports Nutrition Position Stand: nutritional considerations for single-stage ultra-marathon training and racing (2019) · cites this paper as [147]
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International Society of Sports Nutrition Position Stand: Probiotics
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“Examination of athletes in their normal training environment have included competitive cyclists (34), male and female Division I athletes following an offseason resistance training program (16, 53), marathon runners (45), and female Division I swimmers (33).”
BackgroundSelf-citation
- Authors
- Pugh, J. N., Sparks, A. S., Doran, D. A., Fleming, S. C., Langan-Evans, C., Kirk, B., Fearn, R., Morton, J. P., & Close, G. L.
- Affiliations
- Liverpool John Moores University (GB)
- Royal Cornwall Hospital (GB)
- Liverpool Hope University (GB)
- Homerton University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust (GB)
- Corresponding author
- Close, Graeme L.
- Venue
- European Journal of Applied Physiology
- Published
- 2019-04-13
- Volume
- 119
- Issue
- 7
- Pages
- 1491-1501
- ISSN
- 0020-9376 (ISSN-L)
- 1439-6319
- 1439-6327
- PMC
- PMC6570661
- OpenAlex
- W2938910027
- Cited by
- 115
- References
- 43
- Citations by year
- 2026: 10 · 2025: 11 · 2024: 14 · 2023: 10 · 2022: 28 · 2021: 19 · 2020: 18 · 2019: 5
- FWCI
- 13.51
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- hybrid
- doi.org
- Licence
- Locations
- European Journal of Applied Physiology (publishedVersion, cc-by)
- PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Minerva Access (University of Melbourne) (submittedVersion, cc-by)
- Edge Hill University Research Information Repository (Edge Hill University) (submittedVersion, cc-by)
- Liverpool John Moores University (submittedVersion, cc-by)
- Funders
- Aliment Nutrition Ltd
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Food Science › Probiotics and Fermented Foods
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Gastroenterology › Gastrointestinal motility and disorders
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Rehabilitation › Exercise and Physiological Responses
- Keywords
- probiotics, gastrointestinal symptoms, marathon running, Lactobacillus acidophilus, Bifidobacterium bifidum, Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis, intestinal permeability, lactulose/rhamnose ratio, intestinal fatty acid binding protein, soluble CD14, cytokines, immune response, recreational runners, running speed
- MeSH terms
- Adult, Bifidobacterium, Female, Gastrointestinal Diseases, Humans, Jogging, Lactobacillus acidophilus, Lactose, Male, Rhamnose, Cytokines, Lipopolysaccharide Receptors, Probiotics, Gastrointestinal Tract, Fatty Acid-Binding Proteins
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