Kamal Nahas is a freelance contributor based in Oxford, U.K. His work has appeared in New Scientist, Science and The Scientist, among other outlets, and he mainly covers research on evolution, health and technology. He holds a PhD in pathology from the University of Cambridge and a master's degree in immunology from the University of Oxford.
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New research shows that certain gut bacteria can improve muscle strength — at least in mice.Unlock instant access to exclusive member features.Receive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsorsSign up for the latest discoveries, groundbreaking research and fascinating breakthroughs that impact you and the wider world direct to your inbox.Feed your curiosity with an exclusive mystery every week, solved with science and delivered direct to your inbox before it's seen anywhere else.Sign up to our free science & technology newsletter for your weekly fix of fascinating articles, quick quizzes, amazing images, and moreSign up to our monthly entertainment newsletter to keep up with all our coverage of the latest sci-fi and space movies, tv shows, games and books.Discover this week's must-see night sky events, moon phases, and stunning astrophotos. Sign up for our skywatching newsletter and explore the universe with us!People with stronger muscles are more likely to harbor a particular species of bacteria in their guts, and when this bacterial species was fed to mice, they became stronger, a new study finds. The study authors say the microbe has the potential to be part of a probiotic supplement, potentially boosting muscle strength. However, this would require the researchers to find a way to preserve it in a pill. What’s more, this microbe could serve as a drug to treat frailty in the elderly, assuming future clinical trials in humans reveal the microbe safely improves muscle strength, said study lead authorhas been linked to higher muscle mass and strength in previous studies. In addition,"there is pre-clinical evidence to suggest a link between specific gut bacteria and muscle frailty,", a nutrition researcher at La Trobe University in Australia who was not involved with the work, told Live Science via email. However, it was unclear which species affect musculature.An experimental mRNA treatment counters immune cell aging in mice, researchers searched for gut bacteria correlated with muscle strength. They took fecal samples from 90 young participants, ages 18 to 25, and 33 older participants, ages 65 to 71, and asked them to perform strength-training exercises. Both groups were told to squeeze a handheld device to test their handgrip strength. The researchers found that the participants from both age groups with firmer grips tended to have higher counts of the bacteriumWe are able to demonstrate for the first time that there is a direct link between one bacterium and muscle strengthThe young participants were also asked to perform leg-press and bench-press exercises. Those who could lift heavier loads for 10 reps without failing had a greater abundance of gut-dwelling, compared with the young participants who had lower strength scores. However, the link between higher amounts of these microbes and higher load-bearing ability could be explained by other factors. For example, people who strength-train might have an overall healthier lifestyle that involves eating foods that influence their gut microbiome, thereby acquiring more of these bacteria. To determine ifGet the world’s most fascinating discoveries delivered straight to your inbox.Receive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsorsfor four to eight weeks had 30% higher grip strength than other mice. Although this bacterial species enhanced strength, it didn't correlate with muscle growth. Mice given another related species calledtype-I fibers , which contribute to endurance exercises like scurrying in mice or long-distance running in humans, had remolded into type-II fibers, which are pivotal to strength. "We are able to demonstrate for the first time that there is a direct link between one bacterium and muscle strength," Martinez-Tellez said.Sleep deprivation harms the gut via the vagus nerve, early study revealsAlthough these findings are promising, Cooke noted that the mice's gut microbiomes were cleared out with antibiotics before they were given theto boost muscle strength. They are hoping to develop a probiotic that could boost performance in the gym or, if encouraging clinical trial data on its safety and efficacy emerges, use it as a drug to prevent the onset of frailty in elderly people, Martinez-Tellez told Live Science."This is not going to be a substitute for exercise training," he said."It's more of a complement." More research is needed to confirm that such pill-form bacteria could remain in the human gut for long enough to sustain muscular improvements.It will still be many years before this bacterium could be used by the public."The problem that we have with this bacterium is that it is strictly anaerobic, which means that if they are exposed for five seconds to oxygen, they die," Martinez-Tellez said. He and his colleagues will need to develop an air-tight pill that preserves the shelf life of this species. "More research is needed in humans to confirm these animal findings," Cooke said, adding that further studies should involve supplementing people with these bacteria and observing the effects on their muscles and how safe they are to take. Down the line, Martinez-Tellez wants to explore whether other gut residents could have a similar effect on physical performance, broadening the possibilities of boosting brawn through the gut.Martinez-Tellez, B., Schönke, M., Kovynev, A., Garcia-Dominguez, E., Ortiz-Alvarez, L., Verhoeven, A., Gacesa, R., Vila, A. V., Ducarmon, Q. R., Jimenez-Pavon, D., Del Carmen Gomez-Cabrera, M., Weersma, R. K., Smits, W., Giera, M., Ruiz, J. R., & Rensen, P. C. . Roseburia inulinivorans increases muscle strength. Kamal Nahas is a freelance contributor based in Oxford, U.K. His work has appeared in New Scientist, Science and The Scientist, among other outlets, and he mainly covers research on evolution, health and technology. He holds a PhD in pathology from the University of Cambridge and a master's degree in immunology from the University of Oxford. He currently works as a microscopist at the Diamond Light Source, the U.K.'s synchrotron. When he's not writing, you can find him hunting for fossils on the Jurassic Coast.HealthA toxicologist explains when you can safely cut the moldy part off food, and when it's best to toss itMystery medical episode that left astronaut unable to speak shows one of NASA's biggest risks as moon missions ramp upNASA announces moon base, Iran war releases staggering carbon, why weed gives people munchies, and Artemis II preps for liftoff.NASA announces moon base, Iran war releases staggering carbon, why weed gives people munchies, and Artemis II preps for liftoff. Mystery medical episode that left astronaut unable to speak shows one of NASA's biggest risks as moon missions ramp up Our fossil fuel economy is a house of cards and Trump's war in Iran is about to topple it. The need for a clean energy transition has never been clearer.
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