High-Intensity Training Amplifies Lycium Barbarum Juice Mitigation of Exercise-Induced Muscle Damage: A Randomized Controlled Trial

This study investigated the effects of Lycium barbarum juice (LBJ) supplementation on gut microbiota composition and metabolic markers in athletes undergoing high-intensity training. Forty-eight participants were stratified into high-, moderate-, and low-intensity exercise strata, with half receiving daily LBJ for six weeks. Fecal samples were collected for 16S rRNA sequencing to analyze microbial diversity, and serum biomarkers (e.g., cortisol, creatine kinase) were measured. Results demonstrated intensity-dependent modulation of gut microbiota (e.g., Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes ratio) and improvements in body composition. The data provide insights into the role of LBJ in mitigating exercise-induced metabolic stress through microbiota-host interactions.