THE IMPORTANT ROLE OF PROBIOTICS IN SPORTS NUTRITION

Athletes and fitness enthusiasts work hard to improve their health and conditioning. However, they sometimes have issues with their digestion and immunity even as they strive to improve their physical performance. The probiotic strain Bacillus subtilis DE111 can help give fitness enthusiasts and serious athletes a performance boost.

The Sports Nutrition Market is Growing Rapidly

Sports nutrition is the leading projected growth sector in global healthcare, far outpacing other areas such as OTC, vitamin and dietary supplements, and weight management. A recent report by Zion Market Research estimates the global sports nutrition market will grow about 8% annually over the next few years, reaching over $45 billion by 2022. The category includes products such as sports drinks, meal replacement drinks, protein powder, nutrition bars, and dietary supplements that are consumed by professional and amateur athletes to improve their overall health, performance, and muscle growth. Typical goals of a sports nutrition program include muscle and strength building, weight loss, cardiovascular improvement, increased energy, and better sleep.

Athletes May Suffer from Digestive Issues

Despite their typical healthy appearance, athletes may suffer from a number of digestive issues. In facts, studies show that 30% to 50% of athletes and up to 93% of long-distance triathletes suffer from gastrointestinal problems. These issues can occur before, during, or after an exercise session or a competition. Gastrointestinal issues can impair performance or recovery by causing electrolytes imbalance, sleep disturbance, and dehydration. Additionally, a recent study of a group of ultra-marathon runners found 89% experienced nausea, 44% had abdominal cramps, and 44% suffered from diarrhea.

Probiotic Supplements Can Help Ease Gastrointestinal Issues in Athletes

Probiotic supplements boost athletic performance many important ways. First, they help optimize digestion by increasing the absorption of nutrients and digestion of protein, providing the building blocks for muscle building and recovery. Probiotics accomplish this by maintaining levels of healthy bacteria in the gut that aid in the digestion of macronutrients, allowing for optimized nutrient uptake from food. Next, they help strengthen immunity by increasing the absorption of antioxidants making athletes less susceptible to sickness and infection. Finally, they minimize common GI issues, decreasing the occurrence of athlete’s diarrhea, gas, bloating, and heartburn.

Studies Show DE111 Probiotic Can Help in Sports Nutrition

The probiotic strain Bacillus subtilis DE111 from Deerland Probiotics & Enzymes is a spore-forming strain that helps provide a competitive edge to athletes. For example, in a study on the effects of supplementation during offseason resistance training in female Division I athletes, DE111 produced significant improvements in body composition when consumed in conjunction with a high-protein recovery drink. It also helped improve lower body strength as determined by the deadlift 1-repetition maximum. In a separate study on the effect of DE111 on the daily bowel movement profile for people with occasional gastrointestinal irregularity, DE111 helped improve gastrointestinal discomfort including constipation and diarrhea. Participants also reported an increased frequency of normal type stools compared to those in the placebo group.

The DE111 strain is genome sequenced for safety, remains viable under wide temperature range, and survives passage through the acidic environment of GI tract to help crowd out bacterial pathogens and maintain healthy gut barrier function. To find out more about how DE111 can help in sports nutrition, download this white paper.