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Lactiplantibacillus plantarum supplementation improves exercise performance and recovery through specific probiotic strainsSpecific Probiotic Strains May Improve Exercise Performance and Recovery

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Key Takeaway
Note that Lactiplantibacillus plantarum benefits are highly strain-specific; TWK10 and PS128 showed specific improvements.

This systematic review with narrative synthesis evaluates the impact of Lactiplantibacillus plantarum supplementation on exercise performance, recovery, and metabolic markers in healthy individuals. The authors synthesize evidence across multiple strains to determine their specific effects on aerobic endurance, muscle damage, and systemic inflammation.

The findings indicate that strain-specific results are critical for clinical interpretation. The TWK10 strain significantly enhanced aerobic endurance and accelerated the clearance of blood lactate and ammonia; notably, its heat-inactivated form retained these core metabolic benefits. The PS128 strain was found to mitigate exercise-induced muscle damage (EIMD), suppress systemic inflammation, and preserve neuromuscular efficiency, though its impact on peak performance metrics remained equivocal. Preliminary evidence suggests the PL-02 strain may attenuate markers of muscle damage and inflammation.

Several limitations constrain the certainty of these findings, including high heterogeneity in probiotic strains, dosing regimens, and outcome measures. The authors note a geographical clustering of studies in Taiwan and China, as well as small to moderate sample sizes. Furthermore, the evidence base for the PL-02 strain is limited, and some included trials had issues regarding allocation concealment and prospective registration. Clinical application should account for these inconsistencies, as unspecified strains did not show consistent benefits.

Researchers reviewed how different strains of the probiotic Lactiplantibacillus plantarum affect physical exercise. The study looked at healthy individuals to see if these probiotics could improve aerobic endurance, clear blood waste like lactate and ammonia, and reduce inflammation after a workout.

The findings show that results depend heavily on the specific strain used. For example, the TWK10 strain showed benefits for endurance and metabolic clearance. The PS128 strain helped reduce muscle damage and inflammation while maintaining muscle efficiency. However, other unspecified strains did not show consistent benefits.

It is important to note that this evidence comes from a review of several studies with some limitations. These include small sample sizes and a lack of variety in the types of probiotics tested. Because results vary so much between different strains, you should talk to a healthcare professional before starting any new supplement.

What this means for you:
Specific strains like TWK10 and PS128 show promise for exercise recovery, but results vary by strain.

Common questions

Does every probiotic help with exercise?

No, the evidence shows that benefits are highly strain-specific. While strains like TWK10 and PS128 showed positive results for endurance and muscle damage, other unspecified strains did not show consistent or demonstrable benefits.

How does it help with recovery?

The PS128 strain was found to mitigate exercise-induced muscle damage, suppress systemic inflammation, and preserve neuromuscular efficiency. This suggests it may help the body recover better after physical activity.

What are the main limitations of this research?

The evidence is limited by small to moderate sample sizes and a lack of variety in probiotic strains and dosing. Additionally, many studies were clustered in specific geographic locations like Taiwan and China.

Study Details

Study typeMeta analysis
EvidenceLevel 1
PublishedJul 2026
View Original Abstract ↓
BackgroundLactiplantibacillus plantarum is a prominent probiotic species in sports nutrition; however, its potential ergogenic benefits have not yet been systematically consolidated, particularly regarding strain-specific variations.ObjectiveThis systematic review aimed to assess the efficacy of L. plantarum supplementation on exercise performance and recovery in healthy cohorts, while identifying differential effects across distinct strains.MethodsRandomized controlled trials (RCTs) were retrieved from PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, SPORTDiscus, and the Cochrane Library from database inception through March 11, 2026. Risk of bias was assessed using the Cochrane RoB 2 tool. Given the substantial heterogeneity in probiotic strains, dosing regimens, and outcome measures, a narrative synthesis was conducted to integrate the findings.ResultsThe efficacy of L. plantarum supplementation is highly strain-specific. TWK10 exhibited the highest evidential consistency in evidence, significantly enhancing aerobic endurance and accelerating the clearance of blood lactate and ammonia; notably, its heat-inactivated form (postbiotics) retained these core metabolic benefits. PS128 functioned primarily as a recovery-oriented strain, effectively mitigating exercise-induced muscle damage (EIMD), suppressing systemic inflammation, and preserving neuromuscular efficiency, although its impact on peak performance metrics remained equivocal. PL-02 showed preliminary potential in attenuating markers of muscle damage and inflammation, albeit within a limited evidence base. Conversely, interventions using unspecified L. plantarum strains failed to confer demonstrable or consistent benefits. The RoB 2 assessment indicated moderate methodological quality overall, with primary deficiencies identified in allocation concealment and prospective trial registration. Furthermore, the geographical clustering of studies in Taiwan, China, and the reliance on small-to-moderate sample sizes constrain the global generalizability of these findings.ConclusionSupplementation with L. plantarum can effectively enhance exercise performance and facilitate recovery in healthy individuals, with outcomes fundamentally dictated by strain specificity. Future large-scale, multicenter, and longitudinal RCTs are warranted to fortify the evidence base and confirm these findings across more diverse populations.Systematic review registrationhttps://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/myprospero, identifier CRD420261292490.
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