Kylie E Walden, Anthony M Hagele, Logan S Orr, Kristen N Gross, Joesi M Krieger, Ralf Jäger, Chad M Kerksick
Journal: Probiotics and antimicrobial proteins 2024;16(1):125-137
PMID: 36515888
The ability of probiotics to influence the absorption of key nutrients and various forms of digestive enzymes has evolved into an emerging area of interest. It is currently well-established that probiotic outcomes are strain specific. In particular, the Weizmannia coagulans GBI-30, 6086 (BC30) strain, is a lactic acid producing, spore-forming bacterial species that has exhibited the ability to improve protein and amino acid absorption. The aim of this study was to assess the impact of adding BC30 to a plant protein concentrate on amino acid appearance into the bloodstream in a cohort of healthy, older women. This study was a randomised, double-blind, crossover study design. Healthy women (n = 30) between the ages of 50–70 years of age were recruited. Two supplementation periods that each spanned 2 weeks were completed and separated with a washout period of 3 weeks. Results showed that area under the curve values for three individual amino acids (alanine, tryptophan, and cysteine), essential amino acids, and total amino acids were greater when BC30 was co-ingested with a plant protein concentrate when compared to isolated ingestion of an identical dose of the plant protein concentrate in healthy, older women. Additionally, peak plasma concentrations of tryptophan, cysteine, essential amino acids, and total amino acids were also greater when BC30 was added to a plant protein concentrate. Authors concluded that their findings provide additional evidence that adding specific probiotic strains such as BC30 to various forms of protein can improve the appearance of amino acids in the blood.
Weizmannia coagulans GBI-30, 6086 (BC30) has previously been shown to increase protein digestion in an in vitro model of the stomach and small intestine and amino acid appearance in healthy men and women after ingestion of milk protein concentrate. The impact of ingesting BC30 with other protein sources or in other demographics is largely unknown. The purpose of this study was to examine the impact of adding BC30 to a 20-g dose of a blend of rice and pea protein on postprandial changes in blood amino acids concentrations in healthy, older women. Healthy, older females (n = 30, 58.5 ± 5.2 years, 165.4 ± 6.8 cm, 65.6 ± 8.8 kg, 23.7 ± 3.2 kg/m) completed two separate 14-day supplementation protocols separated by a 3-week washout period. Participants were instructed to ingest a 20-g protein dose of a blend of rice and pea protein concentrates (ProDiem Plant Protein Solutions, Kerry) with (PPCBC30) or without (PPC) the addition of 1 × 10 CFU BC30 (Kerry). Body composition and demographics were assessed upon arrival to the laboratory. Upon ingestion of their final assigned supplemental dose, blood samples were taken at 0 (baseline), 30-, 60-, 90-, 120-, 180-, and 240-min post-consumption and analyzed for amino acid concentrations. Alanine (p = 0.018), tryptophan (p = 0.003), cysteine (p = 0.041), essential amino acids (p = 0.050), and total amino acids (p = 0.039) all exhibited significantly (p ≤ 0.05) greater AUC with PPCBC30 when compared to PPC. In addition, tryptophan (p = 0.003), cysteine (p = 0.021), essential amino acids (p = 0.049), and total amino acids (p = 0.035) displayed significantly greater (p ≤ 0.05) concentration maximum (C) values in PPCBC30 when compared to PPC. Finally, time to reach C (T) was similar between conditions with 80% of all measured amino acids and amino acid combinations achieving C at a similar time (~ 60 min). Only phenylalanine T was found to be different (p = 0.01) between the two conditions with PPC displaying a greater proportion of T values after 30 min. Following qualitative (non-inferential) assessment, 88% of all measured outcomes achieved a higher AUC with PPCBC30 and 100% of all outcomes achieved a higher C with PPCBC30. In concert with previous findings in a younger mixed gender cohort with milk protein, the addition of BC30 to a daily 20-g dose of plant protein concentrate in healthy older women improved AUC and C values in several individual amino acids and amino acid combinations. Retrospectively registered on April 6, 2022, at ClinicalTrials.gov as NCT05313178.
© 2022. The Author(s).
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