Supplementation with Human-Origin Probiotic Lactobacillus Plantarum PL-02 Could Effectively Improve Muscle Mass and Exercise Performance, and Have an Anti-Fatigue Effect

Gut microbiota are very important for energy metabolism and regulation, which in turn affect the health and physiological functions of the host. The most direct way to change the gut microbiota is to supplement with probiotics. In this study, we screened Lactobacillus plantarum (PL-02), a probiotic of human-origin, from the intestines of Olympic gold medalists and explored the role of PL-02 in improved exercise endurance performance, reduced fatigue biochemical parameters, and changes in body composition. Male Institute of Cancer Research (ICR) mice were assigned to 0 CFU/kg (vehicle), 2.05 × 109 CFU/kg (PL-02-1X), 4.10 × 109 CFU/kg (PL-02-2X), and 1.03 × 1010 CFU/kg (PL-02-5X) groups and were fed by oral gavage once daily for 4 weeks to assess exercise performance, fatigue parameters, and body composition. The results showed that 4 weeks of PL-02 supplementation could significantly increase muscle mass, improve muscle strength and endurance performance, and increase hepatic and muscular glycogen storage. Furthermore, PL-02 could significantly decrease fatigue biochemical parameters, such as lactate, blood urea nitrogen (BUN), ammonia, and creatine kinase (CK) levels, after exercise. We believe that PL-02 can be used as a supplement to improve exercise performance and for its anti-fatigue effect.