Effects of a Plant-Derived Protein Diet Supplemented With Multi-Strain Probiotics on Muscle Mass, Muscle Strength, and Gut Microbiota in Aged Rats.

Dengfeng Xu, Qihan Xu, Jiarui Lu, Yamin Chen, Bingmeng Fu, Xue Zhang, Xuefeng Qu, Yangjunna Zhang, Jingjin Hu, Shuguang Fang, Yin Wang

Department of Nutrition, Child and Adolescent Health, School of Public Health, Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, P. R. China.Department of Nutrition, Child and Adolescent Health, School of Public Health, Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, P. R. China. · pubmed

Paper

Abstract

This study examined whether a plant-derived protein diet combined with multi-strain probiotics protects against sarcopenia in naturally aged rats (21 months old) via the gut-muscle axis following a 12-week intervention.Compared with the aged control group,The combined intervention increased grip strength by 55.96%, gastrocnemius index by 23.49%, and quadriceps index by 28.29%, while reducing oxidative stress and inflammation (MDA by 39.80%, TNF-α by 42.19%, IL-6 by 65.81%). Mechanistically, it enhanced gut microbiota diversity, enriched beneficial taxa (e.g., Alistipes, Lachnospiraceae_UCG-006), elevated fecal SCFAs, modulated serum amino acids, and upregulated muscle synthesis-related proteins (AMPK-α1, p70 S6K). These findings suggest that a plant-derived protein diet supplemented with multi-strain probiotics represents a promising nutritional strategy to counteract age-related sarcopenia and support healthy ageing.

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Research summary

A plant-derived protein diet supplemented with multi-strain probiotics can improve muscle mass and strength while reducing inflammation in aged rats. This study addresses the root causes of sarcopenia, a significant age-related condition, and suggests a nutritional strategy for promoting healthy aging.

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