AUTHOR=Yu Chia-Hsien , Lai Chang-Chi , Chen Jing-Hsuan , Chen I-Cheng , Tai Hsia-Ling , Fu Szu-Kai 

TITLE=Effect of Lactobacillus plantarum PS128 on neuromuscular efficiency after a half-marathon

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Physiology

VOLUME=14

YEAR=2023

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/physiology/articles/10.3389/fphys.2023.1254985

DOI=10.3389/fphys.2023.1254985

ISSN=1664-042X

ABSTRACT=<p><bold>Introduction:</bold><italic>Lactobacillus plantarum</italic> PS128 (PS128) could be considered an antioxidant supplement to reduce muscle fatigue and improve exercise capacity recovery after vigorous exercise.</p><p><bold>Purpose:</bold> The purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of PS128 on muscle fatigue and electromyography (EMG) activity after a half-marathon (HM).</p><p><bold>Methods:</bold> The experimental design used a repeated-measures design with a double-blind approach. The participants either took two capsules of PS128 for 4 weeks as the PS128 group (PSG, <italic>n</italic> = 8) or took two capsules of a placebo for 4 weeks as the placebo group (PLG, <italic>n</italic> = 8) to ensure counterbalancing. The time points of the maximal voluntary isometric contraction (MVIC) and EMG activity test were set before probiotics were taken (baseline), 48 h before HM (Pre), and immediately at 0 h, 3 h, 24 h, 48 h, 72 h, and 96 h after HM.</p><p><bold>Results:</bold> EMG activity included median power frequency (MDF), integrated EMG (iEMG), and neuromuscular efficiency (peak torque/iEMG). The MVICs of knee extensors, analyzed by using an isokinetic dynamometer, showed a decrease from the Pre to 0 h (<italic>p</italic> = 0.0001), 3 h (<italic>p</italic> &lt; 0.0001), 24 h (<italic>p</italic> &lt; 0.0001), 48 h (<italic>p</italic> &lt; 0.0001), 72 h (<italic>p</italic> = 0.0002), and 96 h (<italic>p</italic> = 0.0408) time points in the PLG. Sidak’s multiple comparisons tests showed that the PLG was significantly lower than the PSG at 0 h (<italic>p</italic> = 0.0173), 3 h (<italic>p</italic> &lt; 0.0001), 24 h (<italic>p</italic> &lt; 0.0001), 48 h (<italic>p</italic> &lt; 0.0001), 72 h (<italic>p</italic> &lt; 0.0001), and 96 h (<italic>p</italic> = 0.0004) time points. The MDF of vastus medialis oblique (VMO) in the PLG was significantly decreased 24 h after HM and significantly lower than that in the PSG at all times points after HM. The iEMG of VMO in the PLG was significantly decreased 48 h after HM and significantly lower than that in the PSG at 0 h, 3 h, 24 h, 48 h, and 72 h after HM.</p><p><bold>Conclusion:</bold> The PS128 supplementation may prevent the decrease in MDF, iEMG, and peak torque after vigorous exercise. Recreational runners may consider implementing a probiotic supplementation regimen as a potential strategy to mitigate muscle fatigue following HM.</p>