A Healthy Gut Microbiome Is Linked To Better Exercise Performance And Skeletal Muscle Retention

The skeletal muscles accommodate for about half of your total body weight. They have multiple functions such as facilitating movement, regulating blood sugar levels, and generating heat.

Would it be surprising to know that the health of your gut microbiota has an association with your skeletal muscles? Let’s get a bit into the theory of the gut-muscle axis (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5858871/). Remember that your gut microbiota consists of trillions of different organisms. An imbalance in the gut microbiome results in your intestinal cell walls to become permeable and could in turn cause byproducts of these organisms to leak into your circulation. From there, your body’s natural response is to ramp up its immune cells to fight off these foreign byproducts through a process called inflammation. Inflammation results in skeletal muscle aging, which can be seen by decrease muscle mass and function. The loss of muscle mass and function through age is also known as sarcopenia. The research involved with the gut microbiota and skeletal muscle aging is still new and ongoing, but it is exciting as this could potentially open up new interventional strategies to preserve your muscle mass and functionally but also to treat the loss thereof as well.

The skeletal muscle has a remarkable attribute to alter its physical characteristics as a result of consistent exercise. Recent research has increasingly focused on the association between exercise performance and the status of the gut microbiome. Emerging data suggest that an imbalanced gut microbiota may negatively impact the skeletal’s muscle ability to fully adapt to exercise training.

We dug through the literature to optimize a probiotic blend that fits your exercise goals

Lactobacillus plantarum – is associated with the production and utilization of lactic acid, a key factor in creating a balanced lactic acid environment within the body. This balance may contribute to reducing exercise-induced fatigue and muscle soreness, offering potential benefits for athletic performance and recovery.

Lactobacillus paracasei is recognized for its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, which play a vital role in mitigating the adverse effects of intense physical activity on muscle tissue. These properties contribute significantly to muscle recovery and overall physical well-being.

Lactobacillus acidophilus, a key probiotic strain, plays a crucial role in maintaining optimal pH levels within the digestive tract. This function is vital for enhancing protein breakdown and absorption from one's diet, thereby contributing significantly to digestive health.

Bifidobacterium lactis – Recent systematic reviews in the scientific literature have highlighted the positive impact of Bifidobacterium lactis on muscle mass. Studies indicate that this particular species of Bifidobacterium plays a significant role in muscle development and maintenance.