Probi has announced the results of a new clinical study evaluating the effect of its probiotic strain, Lactiplantibacillus plantarum 299v (LP299V), on endurance runners.
The study examined key biomarkers associated with kidney function, muscle stress and gut inflammation during endurance running and investigated the strain's potential role in performance and recovery applications.
Prolonged and high-intensity exercise places significant physiological demands on the body.
It often leads to increased systemic inflammation, impaired intestinal barrier function and elevated biomarkers associated with kidney and muscle injury.
For endurance athletes, who need to maintain physiological resilience for both performance and recovery, these responses are particularly relevant.
The study investigated whether daily supplementation with LP299V could help modulate these exercise-induced physiological responses.
The randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled study used 32 experienced runners who ingested either LP299V (10 billion CFU) or a placebo daily for four weeks before participating in endurance races ranging from 20 km to 164 km.
Analysis of urine and faecal biomarkers revealed that running distances of 20 km or more led to measurable increases in markers of kidney stress and gut inflammation, with more pronounced effects observed during ultra-endurance distances exceeding 100 km.
Supplementation with LP299V was associated with a reduced increase in biomarkers of tubular kidney injury, suggesting a potential protective effect on renal stress.
LP299V also demonstrated a significant reduction in exercise-induced gut inflammation, supporting its role in maintaining intestinal integrity under physical stress.
"These findings highlight the potential of LP299V to support the body's response to the physiological demands of endurance exercise," said Gunilla Önning, Senior Science Manager at Probi.
By modulating inflammatory responses and supporting gut barrier function, LP299V may help athletes maintain resilience during prolonged physical activity.
It is worth noting that, despite these improvements in biomarker levels, no differences in self-reported gastrointestinal symptoms were observed during racing.
Regardless, the biomarker data does provide important mechanistic insight into how targeted probiotic supplementation can influence internal physiological responses to exercise-induced stress.
Plus, as interest in gut health, recovery and performance continues to grow, scientifically validated ingredients are becoming increasingly important for product differentiation in the sports nutrition category.
Probi added that its Sports and Active Nutrition offering focuses on delivering evidence-based solutions that address key challenges associated with intense physical activity and that, by continuing to collaborate with leading research institutions and invest in human clinical trials, the company is reinforcing its position as a trusted partner for brands seeking to develop sports nutrition products.