AUTHOR=Cai Yihui , Dong Yao , Han Mei , Jin Manfei , Liu Huan , Gai Zhonghui , Zou Kang 

TITLE=Lacticaseibacillus paracasei LC86 mitigates age-related muscle wasting and cognitive impairment in SAMP8 mice through gut microbiota modulation and the regulation of serum inflammatory factors

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Nutrition

VOLUME=11

YEAR=2024

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/nutrition/articles/10.3389/fnut.2024.1390433

DOI=10.3389/fnut.2024.1390433

ISSN=2296-861X

ABSTRACT=<sec id="sec1"><title>Purpose</title><p>Chronic inflammation contributes to the decline in muscle strength and cognitive abilities associated with aging. This study aims to clarify the effects of oral administration of <italic>Lacticaseibacillus paracasei</italic> LC86 on these age-related declines, as well as its impact on the composition of gut microbiota.</p></sec><sec id="sec2"><title>Methods</title><p>Senescence-accelerated mouse prone 8 (SAMP8) mice received a 12 week regimen of LC86 (1 × 10<sup>9</sup> CFU/day). Muscle strength was assessed through forelimb grip strength and four-limb hanging tests. Cognitive function was evaluated through behavioral performance tests, and changes in gut microbiota were analyzed.</p></sec><sec id="sec3"><title>Results</title><p>Administration of LC86 significantly enhanced muscle strength, demonstrated by increased grip strength and higher glycogen content in the gastrocnemius muscle (<italic>p</italic> = 0.041, <italic>p</italic> = 0.017, and <italic>p</italic> = 0.000, respectively). Behavioral tests suggested that LC86 mitigated age-related cognitive decline. Furthermore, there was a significant decrease in serum pro-inflammatory cytokines, such as IL-6, TNF-α, and MCP-1 (<italic>p</italic> = 0.002, <italic>p</italic> = 0.000, and <italic>p</italic> = 0.005, respectively), and an elevation in the anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10 level (<italic>p</italic> = 0.000). An increase in hepatic antioxidant capacity was observed. Significant changes in the gut microbiota composition were noted, including increased populations of <italic>Bifidobacterium</italic> and <italic>Lactobacillus</italic> and decreased levels of <italic>Escherichia</italic>/<italic>Shigella</italic> and <italic>Bacteroides</italic>.</p></sec><sec id="sec4"><title>Conclusion</title><p>The findings suggest that LC86 supplementation mitigates muscle weakness and cognitive impairment in aging SAMP8 mice, potentially through the modulation of inflammation and gut microbiota composition. LC86 emerges as a promising candidate for ameliorating the decline of muscular and cognitive functions associated with aging.</p></sec>