Razali Mohamed Salleh, Garry Kuan, Mohd Noorazlan Ab Aziz, Mohamad Rahizam Abd Rahim, Tandiyo Rahayu, Sulaiman Sulaiman, Donny Wira Yudha Kusuma, A M G C P Adikari, Muhammad Syafiq Mohd Razam, Ammu K Radhakrishnan, Mahenderan Appukutty
Journal: Nutrients 2021;13(6):1783
PMID: 34073684
Exercise has been shown to improve fitness, wellbeing, and health. However, strenuous exercise may be detrimental physiologically, as well as affecting psychological health. The aim of this study was to determine the effects of daily probiotic supplementation on anxiety, stress, mood and fitness levels among competitive badminton players. This study was a randomised, placebo-controlled study. Recruited participants (n=30) were randomly divided into the probiotic group and the control group. The participants were given treatments for six weeks without altering the training schedule of the athletes. Results showed that stress and anxiety in badminton players could be alleviated with the daily consumption of probiotics for six weeks. Additionally, probiotics supplementation increased aerobic capacity. Authors conclude that probiotic supplements could be beneficial for athletes to enhance their mental state and physical performance. Thus, probiotic supplementation that may influence the regulation of pathways (neuro-endocrine) and mechanism of action in response to physical and psychological stressors encountered by badminton players should further studied.
BACKGROUND
Reports of probiotic consumption on athletes' performance are debatable due to their equivocal results. There is a need for more evidence on the effects of probiotic intake on psychological state and fitness level. Thus, this study determined the effects of daily probiotic consumption on competitive anxiety, perceived stress and mood among university badminton players, besides their fitness like aerobic capacity, strength, speed, leg power and agility.
METHODS
Thirty university badminton players aged from 19 to 22 years old were randomly divided equally into two groups, where the probiotic group (PG; = 15) received a drink that contained Shirota (3 × 10 CFU) and placebo group (CG; = 15) a placebo drink for six weeks. Anxiety, stress and mood levels were determined using the CSAI-2R, PSS and BRUMS questionnaires, respectively. Fitness levels were measured using by subjecting the players to 20-m shuttle runs (aerobic capacity), handgrips (muscular strength), vertical jumps (leg power), 40-m dash (speed) and T-test (agility). The Student's -test ( < 0.05) was used to determine the differences between PG and CG players.
RESULTS
After six weeks, the anxiety and stress levels of PG players significantly decreased by 16% ( < 0.001) and 20% ( < 0.001), respectively, but there were no significant changes detected in CG players. Supplementation of probiotics also improved aerobic capacity in PG players by 5.9% ( < 0.001) but did not influence the speed, strength, leg power and agility.
CONCLUSIONS
Probiotics supplementation showed improved aerobic capacity and relieve anxiety and stress. However, further studies need to be carried out to determine the mechanisms through which probiotic intake produces these effects.
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