Probiotic supplementation for optimizing athletic performance: current evidence and future perspectives for microbiome-based strategies.
- 2025-07-15
- Frontiers in nutrition 12
- Timea Teglas
- Zsolt Radak
- PubMed: 40735239
- DOI: 10.3389/fnut.2025.1572687
The association between microbiota and physical activity is currently a key focus in sports performance research, and the effects of probiotics administration on athletes represent a relatively new area of research. While existing research highlights the promising potential of probiotics, our understanding of how they benefit highly active individuals remains incomplete. Nonetheless, it appears that probiotics have a beneficial effect on mental health, cognitive functions, sleep, gastrointestinal, and upper respiratory symptoms in adult humans. Additionally, the probiotic supplementation and their performance effects of different types of exercise are crucial when building a training program. In most cases, probiotic supplementation is effective in two major types of exercise: probiotics show strain and duration-specific effects both on endurance-based and intermittent-exercise associated sport. The supplementation can reduce inflammatory process activity and stress-related factors, e.g., anxiety, depression, in intermittent exercise-associated sports. In endurance-based sports, probiotics enhanced lipid metabolites, including short-chain and polyunsaturated fatty acids, modulated the maximal oxygen capacity, and reduced gastrointestinal symptoms. Exploring the relationship between probiotics, microbiome, and exercise performance could offer valuable insights for optimizing training techniques and strategies for professional athletes.
Research Insights
| Supplement | Health Outcome | Effect Type | Effect Size |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bifidobacterium plantarum | Improved Athletic Performance | Beneficial | Small |
| Bifidobacterium plantarum | Improved Cognitive Function | Beneficial | Small |
| Bifidobacterium plantarum | Improved Mental Health | Beneficial | Small |
| Bifidobacterium plantarum | Improved Sleep | Beneficial | Small |
| Bifidobacterium plantarum | Reduced Gastrointestinal Symptoms | Beneficial | Moderate |
| Enterococcus faecium R0026 | Improved Cognitive Function | Beneficial | Small |
| Enterococcus faecium R0026 | Improved Gastrointestinal Symptoms | Beneficial | Moderate |
| Enterococcus faecium R0026 | Improved Mental Health | Beneficial | Small |
| Enterococcus faecium R0026 | Improved Sleep | Beneficial | Small |
| Enterococcus faecium R0026 | Reduced Upper Respiratory Symptoms | Beneficial | Moderate |
| Lactobacillus acidophilus L-92 | Improved Gastrointestinal Symptoms | Beneficial | Moderate |
| Lactobacillus acidophilus L-92 | Improved Mental Health | Beneficial | Small |
| Lactobacillus acidophilus L-92 | Reduced Inflammation | Beneficial | Small |
| Lactobacillus acidophilus L-92 | Reduced Upper Respiratory Symptoms | Beneficial | Moderate |