Available from the 8th March to the 19th March on our three most popular women’s probiotics. 
Discount added automatically at checkout for you. Running to Exhaustion Study
Effects of probiotics supplementation on gastrointestinal permeability, inflammation and exercise performance in the heat
Aim
This randomised, double-blind, placebo controlled cross-over study aimed to assess the effect of Lab4 based multi-strain probiotic supplementation on gut permeability, inflammation and running performance when exercising in the hot conditions.
Method
- Ten trained, male runners (age 27 ± 2 years) were divided into two groups.
- Group 1 took one placebo capsule daily for 4 weeks.
- Group 2 received one capsule of 45 billion Lab4 based multi-strain probiotics daily for 4 weeks.
- After 4 weeks of supplementation, the runners completed the time-to-fatigue run (80% ventilatory threshold, 35°C, 40% relative humidity).
- Following a 3-week washout period, the runners who took a placebo in the first 4 weeks received Lab4 based multi-strain probiotics and vice versa. After 4 weeks of supplementation, the volunteers repeated the same time-to-fatigue run.
- Volunteers provided blood samples before, immediately after and 1 hour after exercise. The urine samples were collected for 5 hours after the beginning of the exercise.
Results
Run time to fatigue
- Significant increase in running time to fatigue in heat was observed in the probiotic group compared to placebo (*P=0.033).
- The runners supplemented with probiotics exercised for a longer period (37 min 44s) compared to placebo (33 min).
Intestinal permeability
- Lactulose:Rhamnose ratio in urine was measured as an assessment of intestinal permeability.
- Lactulose:Rhamnose ratio was 8% lower following the probiotic supplementation compared to placebo.
- This was associated with the reduction in circulating lipopolysaccharide concentration at pre- and post-exercise.
Conclusion
Four weeks of Lab4 based multi-strain probiotic supplementation significantly increased running time to exhaustion in hot environmental conditions.
Reference
Shing CM et al 2014. Effects of probiotics supplementation on gastrointestinal permeability, inflammation and exercise performance in the heat. European Journal of Applied Physiology 114: 93-103
