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02.12.2016

Lactobacillus plantarum TWK10, the probiotic in Superman's belly

A beneficial bacteria, one that microbiologists have found in Taiwanese pickled cabbage, reduces body fat, stimulates the growth of muscle tissue and boost muscle strength and endurance capacity. Researchers at National Taiwan Sport University write about this in Nutrients. The Taiwanese did experiments on mice.

Study
The bacteria the researchers used for their experiments are called Lactobacillus plantarum TWK10. They gave the bacteria to mice in doses of 2.05 x 108 [LP10-1X] or 1.03 x 109 [LP10-5X] colony-forming units per kilogram bodyweight per day, for six weeks. A control group was given no probiotics.

At the end of the period the researchers measured the amount of strength the mice had in their paws, and how long the animals could swim in an aquarium until they could no longer keep their heads above water.

Results
The mice's grip strength increased by a significant amount. But the increase in endurance capacity was even more remarkable.

After the mice had swum the researchers found less lactic acid [CK], ammonia [NH3] and creatine kinase in the blood of the animals that had been given probiotics. Click on the figure below for a larger version.

The body composition of the mice had changed for the better. Their relative fat mass had declined - there had been a decrease in the epididymal fat pad [EFP] - and at the same time their relative muscle mass had increased, as shown by the increase in weight of the gastrocnemius and soleus.

When they looked at the muscles under the microscope, the Taiwanese could see no effects of the supplementation in the soleus, but did see effects in the gastrocnemius. The number of type-1 muscle fibres had increased considerably.

Conclusion
The Taiwanese are not sure how Lactobacillus plantarum TWK10 brought about all the physiological changes. But they do know that the effects are interesting for athletes.

"We found that Lactobacillus plantarum TWK10 supplementation could enhance glucose utilization to increase endurance exercise time by increasing the number of gastrocnemius type I muscle fibers", the researchers wrote.

"We provide evidence that Lactobacillus plantarum TWK10 affects biochemical features with long-term aerobic swimming. For future investigations, Lactobacillus plantarum TWK10 could be used in humans who focus on aerobic endurance training for protective and health purposes."

"In addition, data in humans supporting the existence of such interplay are lacking. Because humans have different lifestyles, behaviors, diets, and many environmental factors that influence their microbiomes, future studies should be performed in humans to validate the concepts based on animal models."

Source:
Nutrients. 2016 Apr 7;8(4):205.

More:
Animal study: probiotic Lactobacillus reuteri ATCC 6475 boosts testosterone synthesis 04.02.2014
Probiotic bacteria LKM512 extends lifespan in animal study 24.10.2011
Half as less often ill with Lactobacillus reuteri probiotic 09.05.2011

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