Cited by 257Probiotics and Fermented FoodsExercise and Physiological ResponsesAnimal Nutrition and Physiology

Probiotic supplementation affects markers of intestinal barrier, oxidation, and inflammation in trained men; a randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled trial

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Lamprecht, Manfred, Bogner, Simon, Schippinger, Gert, Steinbauer, Kurt, Fankhauser, Florian, Hallstroem, Seth, Schuetz, Burkhard, Greilberger, Joachim F·2012·Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Probiotics are an upcoming group of nutraceuticals claiming positive effects on athlete's gut health, redox biology and immunity but there is lack of evidence to support these statements. METHODS: We conducted a randomized, double-blinded, placebo controlled trial to observe effects of probiotic supplementation on markers of intestinal barrier, oxidation and inflammation, at rest and after intense exercise. 23 trained men received multi-species probiotics (1010 CFU/day, Ecologic®Performance or OMNi-BiOTiC®POWER, n = 11) or placebo (n = 12) for 14 weeks and performed an intense cycle ergometry over 90 minutes at baseline and after 14 weeks. Zonulin and α1-antitrypsin were measured from feces to estimate gut leakage at baseline and at the end of treatment. Venous blood was collected at baseline and after 14 weeks, before and immediately post exercise, to determine carbonyl proteins (CP), malondialdehyde (MDA), total oxidation status of lipids (TOS), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), and interleukin-6 (IL-6). Statistical analysis used multifactorial analysis of variance (ANOVA). Level of significance was set at p < 0.05, a trend at p < 0.1. RESULTS: Zonulin decreased with supplementation from values slightly above normal into normal ranges (<30 ng/ml) and was significantly lower after 14 weeks with probiotics compared to placebo (p = 0.019). We observed no influence on α1-antitrypsin (p > 0.1). CP increased significantly from pre to post exercise in both groups at baseline and in the placebo group after 14 weeks of treatment (p = 0.006). After 14 weeks, CP concentrations were tendentially lower with probiotics (p = 0.061). TOS was slightly increased above normal in both groups, at baseline and after 14 weeks of treatment. There was no effect of supplementation or exercise on TOS. At baseline, both groups showed considerably higher TNF-α concentrations than normal. After 14 weeks TNF-α was tendentially lower in the supplemented group (p = 0.054). IL-6 increased significantly from pre to post exercise in both groups (p = 0.001), but supplementation had no effect. MDA was not influenced, neither by supplementation nor by exercise. CONCLUSIONS: The probiotic treatment decreased Zonulin in feces, a marker indicating enhanced gut permeability. Moreover, probiotic supplementation beneficially affected TNF-α and exercise induced protein oxidation. These results demonstrate promising benefits for probiotic use in trained men. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRY: http://www.clinicaltrials.gov, identifier: NCT01474629.

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  • Specific probiotic strains can improve the integrity of the gut-barrier function in athletes.

    “Specific probiotic strains can improve the integrity of the gut-barrier function in athletes.”
  • In endurance-trained men, 14 weeks of a multi-species probiotic had no effect on VO2 max and maximum performance.

    “For instance, in endurance-trained men, 14 weeks of a multi-species probiotic had no effect on VO2 max and maximum performance [63].”
  • Supplemented probiotics may activate the TLR2 signaling pathway, resulting in improved intestinal barrier function and reduced susceptibility to endotoxemia and associated cytokine production.

    “Lamprecht et al. [63] suggested that the supplemented probiotics may activate the TLR2 signaling pathway resulting in improved intestinal barrier function, thus reducing an athlete’s susceptibility to endotoxemia and associated cytokine production [137].”
  • Fourteen weeks of multi-species probiotic supplementation significantly decreased fecal zonulin concentrations from slightly above normal into the physiological range in trained men.

    “Zonulin concentrations decreased significantly from slightly above normal into the physiological range in subjects that supplemented with the probiotics.”
  • Positive GI results included significantly decreased concentrations of zonulin and endotoxin, as well as intestinal hyperpermeability and duration of GI-symptom episode.

    “This latter group included significantly decreased concentrations of zonulin [63] and endotoxin [77], as well as intestinal hyperpermeability [132] and duration of GI-symptom episode.”

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Authors
Lamprecht, M., Bogner, S., Schippinger, G., Steinbauer, K., Fankhauser, F., Hallstroem, S., Schuetz, B., & Greilberger, J. F.
Affiliations
  • Medical University of Graz (AT)
  • SportchirurgiePlusCentre for Individual Sport Medicine and Surgery Graz Austria
  • VRVis GmbH (Austria) (AT)
Corresponding author
Lamprecht, Manfred
Venue
Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition
Published
2012-02-06
Volume
9
Issue
1
Pages
45-45
ISSN
1550-2783 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W2160904230
Cited by
257
References
57
Citations by year
2026: 17 · 2025: 14 · 2024: 21 · 2023: 20 · 2022: 31 · 2021: 23 · 2020: 30 · 2019: 28 · 2018: 20 · 2017: 13 · 2016: 14 · 2015: 12 · 2014: 8 · 2013: 5 · 2012: 1
FWCI
12.79
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion)
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Food Science › Probiotics and Fermented Foods
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Rehabilitation › Exercise and Physiological Responses
  • Life Sciences › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Animal Science and Zoology › Animal Nutrition and Physiology
Keywords
probiotics, probiotic supplementation, athletes, trained men, intestinal barrier, leaky gut, zonulin, alpha-1-antitrypsin, oxidative stress, lipid peroxidation, malondialdehyde, protein carbonyls, inflammation, TNF-α, interleukin-6, physical activity, gut health, nutraceuticals

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