Effect of Lactiplantibacillus plantarum GKK1 Supplementation on Exercise-Induced Fatigue, Muscle Damage, and Recovery in Healthy Men: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial.

Mon-Chien Lee, Chao-Yuan Chen, Ying-Ti Shih, You-Shan Tsai, Shih-Wei Lin, Yen-Lien Chen, Chin-Chu Chen, Chi-Chang Huang

Journal: Nutrients 2026;18(17):

PMID: 42738954

Abstract

BACKGROUND

Exercise-induced fatigue (EIF) and exercise-induced muscle damage (EIMD) impair neuromuscular performance and delay post-exercise recovery. However, human evidence regarding the structural and functional recovery kinetics following Lactiplantibacillus plantarum GKK1 supplementation remains limited.

OBJECTIVE

This randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial investigated whether 4 weeks of L. plantarum GKK1 supplementation improves functional recovery and modulates biochemical responses after an EIMD protocol in healthy men.

METHODS

Forty-eight healthy men with no regular exercise habits were randomly assigned to receive either placebo (n = 24) or L. plantarum GKK1 (two capsules daily, totaling 1.0 × 10¹¹ CFU; n = 24) for 28 consecutive days. The trial was registered at ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT06893549). After supplementation, participants completed 100 maximal plyometric jumps. Countermovement jump (CMJ), isometric mid-thigh pull (IMTP), and Wingate anaerobic performance were assessed before EIMD and at 3, 24, and 48 h post-EIMD. Blood biomarkers of muscle damage, inflammation, oxidative stress, endocrine response, and sympathoadrenal activity were analyzed, and urinary 3-methylhistidine and creatinine were measured.

RESULTS

Compared with placebo, GKK1 supplementation was associated with smaller post-exercise decrements in the CMJ rate of force development, relative peak force, jump height, IMTP relative peak force and peak RFD, and Wingate anaerobic performance (p < 0.05). GKK1 also attenuated post-exercise increases in CK, myoglobin, hs-CRP, and TBARS, and was associated with more favorable testosterone, HGH, catecholamine, and dopamine responses. At 24 h post-EIMD, urinary 3-methylhistidine and the 3-methylhistidine/urinary creatinine ratio were lower in the GKK1 group than in the placebo group. No adverse changes were observed in clinical safety biomarkers.

CONCLUSION

These findings suggest that GKK1 may be a safe nutritional strategy to facilitate functional recovery, attenuate secondary inflammatory responses and modulate urinary markers associated with muscle breakdown following muscle-damaging exercise in healthy young men.

Address: Graduate Institute of Sports Science, National Taiwan Sport University, Taoyuan City 333325, Taiwan.; Center for General Education, Taipei Medical University, Taipei 110301, Taiwan.; Graduate Institute of Sports Science, National Taiwan Sport University, Taoyuan City 333325, Taiwan.; Physical Education Office, National Taipei University of Business, Taipei 100025, Taiwan.; Office of Student Affairs, Hsin Sheng Junior College of Medical Care and Management, Taoyuan 32544, Taiwan.; Biotech Research Institute, Grape King Bio Ltd., Taoyuan City 325002, Taiwan.; Biotech Research Institute, Grape King Bio Ltd., Taoyuan City 325002, Taiwan.; Institute of Food Science and Technology, National Taiwan University, Taipei City 106319, Taiwan.; Department of Bioscience Technology, Chung Yuan Christian University, Taoyuan City 320314, Taiwan.; Institute of BioPharmaceutical Science, National Sun Yat-Sen University, Kaohsiung City 804201, Taiwan.; Graduate Institute of Sports Science, National Taiwan Sport University, Taoyuan City 333325, Taiwan.

DOI: 10.3390/nu18172782

MeSH Terms: Humans, Male, Double-Blind Method, Post-Exercise Recovery, Adult, Exercise, Young Adult, Biomarkers, Lactiplantibacillus plantarum, Dietary Supplements, Muscle, Skeletal, Probiotics, Muscle Fatigue, Oxidative Stress, Post-Exercise Recovery Techniques