Effects of Weizmannia coagulans BC99 intervention on exercise-induced muscle damage and gut microbiota in male college students: a randomized controlled trial

The aim of this investigation was to study effect of Weizmannia coagulans BC99 on recovery of exercise-induced muscle damage in male college students. Using a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study design, seventy-two healthy male college students were randomized into 2 groups: the placebo group (n = 36) and the probiotic group (n = 36). Participants were administrated by placebo or probiotic for 12 weeks and subsequently muscle damage was induced by an intense exercise work stress (5 sets of 12 repetitions of barbell squat at 70% of one-repetition maximum with a 2-minute interval between sets). The pain level of muscle was assessed using visual analog scale at 24h, 48h and 72h after the intense exercise, and the plasma lactate, lactate dehydrogenase , creatine kinase , C-reactive protein , levels of Inflammatory factors and Oxidative stress.