To Your Health
March, 2022 (Vol. 16, Issue 03) |
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Probiotics: Good for Muscles
By Editorial Staff
Think probiotics are only good for your gut health? Think again. While probiotics (healthy bacteria; commonly found in yogurt, kombucha, etc., and available in supplement form) help restore and rebalance the GI microbiome - which an increasing body of research suggests is beneficial for far more than just the gut, their value may transcend the microbiome. Let's take a look at a new review study that suggests probiotics help muscles in several ways.
Simply put, probiotics strains "improve muscle mass and function," according to the study, findings from which appear in a recent issue of the Journal of Cachexia, Sarcopenia and Muscle. These findings are particularly important for the aging population, as age-related skeletal muscle loss can lead to frailty and increase injury risk (e.g., fall risk).
So, how can probiotics help skeletal muscle health? According to the researchers, "Probiotics can promote the production of metabolites such as short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), secondary bile acids (BAs), and some amino acids that can ultimately modulate muscle function."
If you're not taking probiotics (or weren't even aware of what they are until now), you have two reasons (at least) to ask your doctor for more information. Probiotics: good for the GI microbiome, good for muscles; potentially good for so much more.
