Evaluation of Probiotics for Warfighter Health and Performance.

2020-06-09
Frontiers in nutrition 7
- Richard T Agans
- Grace E Giles
- Michael S Goodson
- J Philip Karl
- Samantha Leyh
- Karen L Mumy
- Kenneth Racicot
- Jason W Soares

PubMed: 32582752
DOI: 10.3389/fnut.2020.00070

Study Design

Type: Review
Population: healthy adults within the context of potential applications for military personnel
Methods: In this narrative review, we examine the evidence regarding probiotics and candidate probiotics for physical and/or cognitive benefits in healthy adults within the context of potential applications for military personnel.

The probiotic industry continues to grow in both usage and the diversity of products available. Scientific evidence supports clinical use of some probiotic strains for certain gastrointestinal indications. Although much less is known about the impact of probiotics in healthy populations, there is increasing consumer and scientific interest in using probiotics to promote physical and psychological health and performance. Military men and women are a unique healthy population that must maintain physical and psychological health in order to ensure mission success. In this narrative review, we examine the evidence regarding probiotics and candidate probiotics for physical and/or cognitive benefits in healthy adults within the context of potential applications for military personnel. The reviewed evidence suggests potential for certain strains to induce biophysiological changes that may offer physical and/or cognitive health and performance benefits in military populations. However, many knowledge gaps exist, effects on health and performance are generally not widespread among the strains examined, and beneficial findings are generally limited to single studies with small sample sizes. Multiple studies with the same strains and using similar endpoints are needed before definitive recommendations for use can be made. We conclude that, at present, there is not compelling scientific evidence to support the use of any particular probiotic(s) to promote physical or psychological performance in healthy military personnel. However, plausibility for physical and psychological health and performance benefits remains, and additional research is warranted. In particular, research in military cohorts would aid in assessing the value of probiotics for supporting physical and psychological health and performance under the unique demands required of these populations.

Research Insights

Lactobacillus brevis SBC8803→Improved Physical Performance
The reviewed evidence suggests potential for certain strains to induce biophysiological changes that may offer physical and/or cognitive health and performance benefits in military populations.
Effect
Beneficial
Effect size
Small
Lactobacillus brevis SBC8803→Improved Physical and Cognitive Performance
The reviewed evidence suggests potential for certain strains to induce biophysiological changes that may offer physical and/or cognitive health and performance benefits in military populations. However... beneficial findings are generally limited to single studies with small sample sizes.
Effect
Beneficial
Effect size
Small
Lactobacillus brevis SBC8803→No Human Health Outcome Reported
The abstract is a narrative review and does not report a specific study outcome for Lactobacillus brevis SBC8803; it only notes that "beneficial findings are generally limited to single studies with small sample sizes" and that "there is not compelling scientific evidence to support the use of any particular probiotic(s) to promote physical or psychological performance in healthy military personnel."
Effect
Neutral
Effect size
Small
Lactobacillus rhamnosus→Improved Physical and Psychological Performance
we conclude that, at present, there is not compelling scientific evidence to support the use of any particular probiotic(s) to promote physical or psychological performance in healthy military personnel.
Effect
Neutral
Effect size
Small