Lactobacillus salivarius UCC118 and Improved Exercise Performance

Research synthesisVery low evidenceModerate effect3 studies · 3 beneficial · 0 neutral · 0 harmful

Across 3 studies (2 reviews and 1 animal study), 3 of 3 reported beneficial effects of Lactobacillus salivarius on exercise performance, with a predominant moderate effect size. The only statistically significant finding comes from a mouse study using a different subspecies (SA-03), showing moderate improvement in muscle strength and endurance. No human trials or dose information are available, and the evidence base is limited to preclinical data.

Caveats: Evidence base is small (only 3 studies) — conclusions should be considered preliminary. Available evidence is overwhelmingly positive but clinical literature in this area is subject to publication bias (null-result studies are less likely to be published or indexed). Many of the included studies did not reach statistical significance — effect may be smaller than the predominant direction suggests. The only original study used a different strain (Lactobacillus salivarius subsp. salicinius SA-03) rather than UCC118, limiting direct applicability. The two reviews are general probiotic overviews and do not provide specific evidence for this strain.

Generated Jul 12, 2026

3 of 3 papersPopulation:

Gut Microbiota and Exercise: Probiotics to Modify the Composition and Roles of the Gut Microbiota in the Context of 3P Medicine.
- 2025-05-03
- Review
- Microbial ecology 88(1)
- - Yongfu Liu
  - Yuting Hu
  - Baolei Ma
  - Zijun Wang
  - Bowen Wei
- PubMed: 40319213
- DOI: 10.1007/s00248-025-02529-w
2 Insights on
- Improved Exercise Performance
- Low evidence
Emerging evidence highlights the pivotal role of the gut microbiome in mediating communication along the gut-brain and gut-muscle axes, thereby influencing not only metabolic and immune functions but also neuromuscular adaptation and fatigue resistance. This review explores the mechanisms through which probiotics may enhance exercise performance, mitigate exercise-induced fatigue, and improve physiological adaptation
Effect
Beneficial
Effect size
Moderate
An Updated View of the Effect of Probiotic Supplement on Sports Performance: A Detailed Review.
- 2024-03-12
- Review
- Current nutrition reports 13(2)
- - Miray Nur Aykut
  - Esma Nur Erdoğan
  - Menşure Nur Çelik
  - Murat Gürbüz
- PubMed: 38470560
- DOI: 10.1007/s13668-024-00527-x
4 Insights on
- Improved Exercise Performance
- Low evidence
Probiotic supplementation may improve sports performance by reducing the adverse effects of prolonged high-intensity exercise.
Effect
Beneficial
Effect size
Small
Lactobacillus salivarius Subspecies salicinius SA-03 is a New Probiotic Capable of Enhancing Exercise Performance and Decreasing Fatigue
- 2020-04-09
- Microorganisms 8(4)
- - Mon-Chien Lee
  - Y. Hsu
  - H. Ho
  - Shih‐Hung Hsieh
  - Y. Kuo
  - Hsin‐Ching Sung
  - Chi-Chang Huang
- PubMed: 32283729
- DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms8040545
13 Insights on
- Improved Exercise Performance
- Low evidence
- Rigorous Journal
- Clinical
Results showed that 4 weeks of SA-03 supplementation significantly improved muscle strength and endurance performance.
Effect
Beneficial
Effect size
Moderate
Significant
Yes

Lactobacillus salivarius UCC118 and Improved Exercise Performance

Gut Microbiota and Exercise: Probiotics to Modify the Composition and Roles of the Gut Microbiota in the Context of 3P Medicine.

An Updated View of the Effect of Probiotic Supplement on Sports Performance: A Detailed Review.

Lactobacillus salivarius Subspecies salicinius SA-03 is a New Probiotic Capable of Enhancing Exercise Performance and Decreasing Fatigue