Probiotics and muscle health: the impact of Lactobacillus on sarcopenia through the gut-muscle axis
Sarcopenia refers to the decline in skeletal muscle mass and function. Due to its increased mortality rate and severe disability, the clinical importance of sarcopenia is becoming increasingly prominent. Although the exact cause of sarcopenia is not fully understood, the gut microbiota (GM) plays a...
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2025-03-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Microbiology |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmicb.2025.1559119/full |
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| author | Jingjun Zhu Fei Peng Huixin Yang Jing Luo Li Zhang Xiaolong Chen Huazhi Liao Hao Lei Shuai Liu Tingqian Yang Tingqian Yang Guanghua Luo Guodong Chen Heng Zhao |
| author_facet | Jingjun Zhu Fei Peng Huixin Yang Jing Luo Li Zhang Xiaolong Chen Huazhi Liao Hao Lei Shuai Liu Tingqian Yang Tingqian Yang Guanghua Luo Guodong Chen Heng Zhao |
| author_sort | Jingjun Zhu |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Sarcopenia refers to the decline in skeletal muscle mass and function. Due to its increased mortality rate and severe disability, the clinical importance of sarcopenia is becoming increasingly prominent. Although the exact cause of sarcopenia is not fully understood, the gut microbiota (GM) plays a crucial role in the pathogenesis of sarcopenia, and increasing evidence suggests that gut dysbiosis may be associated with disease development. In the past few decades, the use of probiotics has surged, few studies have explored their impact on sarcopenia prevention and treatment. Lactobacillus probiotics are commonly used for gut health and immune support, but their mechanism in sarcopenia via the gut-muscle axis remains uncertain. This review highlights the treatment challenges, GM’s role in sarcopenia, and the potential of Lactobacillus as an adjunct therapy. In addition, we also discuss the possible mechanisms by which Lactobacillus affect muscle function, such as alleviating inflammatory states, clearing excessive reactive oxygen species (ROS), improving skeletal muscle metabolism, enhancing intestinal barrier function and modulating the gut microbiota and its metabolites. These mechanisms may collectively contribute to the preservation of muscle mass and function, offering a promising avenue for advancing microbial therapies for sarcopenia. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-ab3d05ad5b0d4dfdaa7e40f98e7efd3d |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 1664-302X |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-03-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Microbiology |
| spelling | doaj-art-ab3d05ad5b0d4dfdaa7e40f98e7efd3d2025-08-20T02:53:02ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Microbiology1664-302X2025-03-011610.3389/fmicb.2025.15591191559119Probiotics and muscle health: the impact of Lactobacillus on sarcopenia through the gut-muscle axisJingjun Zhu0Fei Peng1Huixin Yang2Jing Luo3Li Zhang4Xiaolong Chen5Huazhi Liao6Hao Lei7Shuai Liu8Tingqian Yang9Tingqian Yang10Guanghua Luo11Guodong Chen12Heng Zhao13Department of Radiology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Hengyang Medical School, University of South China, Hengyang, Hunan, ChinaDepartment of Radiology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Hengyang Medical School, University of South China, Hengyang, Hunan, ChinaChangde Hospital, Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University (The First People’s Hospital of Changde City), Changde, ChinaDepartment of Radiology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Hengyang Medical School, University of South China, Hengyang, Hunan, ChinaDepartment of Radiology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Hengyang Medical School, University of South China, Hengyang, Hunan, ChinaDepartment of Radiology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Hengyang Medical School, University of South China, Hengyang, Hunan, ChinaDepartment of Radiology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Hengyang Medical School, University of South China, Hengyang, Hunan, ChinaDepartment of Radiology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Hengyang Medical School, University of South China, Hengyang, Hunan, ChinaDepartment of Hepatobiliary Pancreatic Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital, Hengyang Medical School, University of South China, Hengyang, ChinaDepartment of Radiology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Hengyang Medical School, University of South China, Hengyang, Hunan, ChinaDepartment of Radiology, The Seventh Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen, Guangdong, ChinaDepartment of Radiology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Hengyang Medical School, University of South China, Hengyang, Hunan, ChinaDepartment of Hepatobiliary Pancreatic Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital, Hengyang Medical School, University of South China, Hengyang, ChinaDepartment of Radiology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Hengyang Medical School, University of South China, Hengyang, Hunan, ChinaSarcopenia refers to the decline in skeletal muscle mass and function. Due to its increased mortality rate and severe disability, the clinical importance of sarcopenia is becoming increasingly prominent. Although the exact cause of sarcopenia is not fully understood, the gut microbiota (GM) plays a crucial role in the pathogenesis of sarcopenia, and increasing evidence suggests that gut dysbiosis may be associated with disease development. In the past few decades, the use of probiotics has surged, few studies have explored their impact on sarcopenia prevention and treatment. Lactobacillus probiotics are commonly used for gut health and immune support, but their mechanism in sarcopenia via the gut-muscle axis remains uncertain. This review highlights the treatment challenges, GM’s role in sarcopenia, and the potential of Lactobacillus as an adjunct therapy. In addition, we also discuss the possible mechanisms by which Lactobacillus affect muscle function, such as alleviating inflammatory states, clearing excessive reactive oxygen species (ROS), improving skeletal muscle metabolism, enhancing intestinal barrier function and modulating the gut microbiota and its metabolites. These mechanisms may collectively contribute to the preservation of muscle mass and function, offering a promising avenue for advancing microbial therapies for sarcopenia.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmicb.2025.1559119/fullsarcopeniagut-muscle axisgut microbiotaLactobacillusmuscle |
| spellingShingle | Jingjun Zhu Fei Peng Huixin Yang Jing Luo Li Zhang Xiaolong Chen Huazhi Liao Hao Lei Shuai Liu Tingqian Yang Tingqian Yang Guanghua Luo Guodong Chen Heng Zhao Probiotics and muscle health: the impact of Lactobacillus on sarcopenia through the gut-muscle axis Frontiers in Microbiology sarcopenia gut-muscle axis gut microbiota Lactobacillus muscle |
| title | Probiotics and muscle health: the impact of Lactobacillus on sarcopenia through the gut-muscle axis |
| title_full | Probiotics and muscle health: the impact of Lactobacillus on sarcopenia through the gut-muscle axis |
| title_fullStr | Probiotics and muscle health: the impact of Lactobacillus on sarcopenia through the gut-muscle axis |
| title_full_unstemmed | Probiotics and muscle health: the impact of Lactobacillus on sarcopenia through the gut-muscle axis |
| title_short | Probiotics and muscle health: the impact of Lactobacillus on sarcopenia through the gut-muscle axis |
| title_sort | probiotics and muscle health the impact of lactobacillus on sarcopenia through the gut muscle axis |
| topic | sarcopenia gut-muscle axis gut microbiota Lactobacillus muscle |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmicb.2025.1559119/full |
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