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Nutrients
Volume 17
Issue 23
10.3390/nu17233762
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This is an early access version, the complete PDF, HTML, and XML versions will be available soon.
Article

Probiotic Supplementation Can Alter Inflammation Parameters and Self-Reported Sleep After a Marathon: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Study

by
Valdir Aquino-Lemos
1,
Geovana S. F. Leite
2,
Edgar T. Silva
3,
Helena A. P. Batatinha
2,
Ayane S. Resende
2,
Antônio H. Lancha-Junior
2,
José C. R. Neto
2,
Sergio Tufik
3 and
Ronaldo V. Thomatieli-Santos
1,*
1
Department of Bioscience, Federal University of São Paulo, Santos 11015-020, SP, Brazil
2
School of Physical Education, University of São Paulo, São Paulo 05508-030, SP, Brazil
3
Department of Psychobiology, Federal University of São Paulo, São Paulo 04040-003, SP, Brazil
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Nutrients 2025, 17(23), 3762; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu17233762 (registering DOI)
Submission received: 20 October 2025 / Revised: 20 November 2025 / Accepted: 27 November 2025 / Published: 29 November 2025
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nutrition–Sleep Interactions in Sports and Exercise: Timing, Recovery, and Adaptation)
Versions Notes

Abstract

Background: Sleep is essential for athletes’ physical performance and recovery. However, strenuous exercise has the potential to increase inflammation and worsen sleep. This study evaluated the effect of probiotic supplementation on self-reported sleep quality, daytime sleepiness, and inflammatory profile 24 h after a marathon. Methods: 27 marathon male runners were divided into the Probiotic group (Probiotic n = 14) or the Placebo group (Placebo n = 13). The Probiotic group consumed 1 × 1010 CFU of Lactobacillus acidophilus, 1 × 1010 CFU of Bifidobacterium lactis + 5 g/day maltodextrin for 30 days prior to the marathon. The Placebo group received a sachet of 5 g/day maltodextrin during the same period. Sleep and inflammatory status were assessed before supplementation, before the marathon, and 1 h and 24 h after the marathon. Data were analyzed using Statistic 13.3 and expressed as mean ± standard deviation. Tukey’s post hoc test was followed by a two-way ANOVA with repeated measures. The level of significance was set at p ≤ 0.05. Results: In the Placebo group, daytime sleepiness, sleep latency, and global sleep score increased 24 h after the marathon, while total sleep time and sleep efficiency decreased. In the Probiotic group, daytime sleepiness, sleep latency, and global sleep scores were lower 24 h after the marathon compared to the Placebo group. Total sleep time and sleep efficiency were higher in the Probiotic group compared to the Placebo group 24 h after the marathon. IL-1β and TNF-α concentrations decreased compared to Basal in both groups. IL-1β levels were lower 24 h after treatment compared to pre-treatment in the Placebo group. IL-6 was lower 24 h after the marathon in both groups. LPS concentrations were lower 1 h and 24 h after the marathon in the Probiotic group compared to the Basal group. There was no difference in cytokines and LPS between the groups. Conclusions: Supplementation with Lactobacillus acidophilus and Bifidobacterium lactis for 30 days changes self-reported sleep and reduces LPS concentration after the marathon.
Keywords: strenuous physical exercise; sleep; sleepiness; marathon; probiotics; gut–brain axis strenuous physical exercise; sleep; sleepiness; marathon; probiotics; gut–brain axis

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MDPI and ACS Style

Aquino-Lemos, V.; Leite, G.S.F.; Silva, E.T.; Batatinha, H.A.P.; Resende, A.S.; Lancha-Junior, A.H.; Neto, J.C.R.; Tufik, S.; Thomatieli-Santos, R.V. Probiotic Supplementation Can Alter Inflammation Parameters and Self-Reported Sleep After a Marathon: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Study. Nutrients 2025, 17, 3762. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu17233762

AMA Style

Aquino-Lemos V, Leite GSF, Silva ET, Batatinha HAP, Resende AS, Lancha-Junior AH, Neto JCR, Tufik S, Thomatieli-Santos RV. Probiotic Supplementation Can Alter Inflammation Parameters and Self-Reported Sleep After a Marathon: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Study. Nutrients. 2025; 17(23):3762. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu17233762

Chicago/Turabian Style

Aquino-Lemos, Valdir, Geovana S. F. Leite, Edgar T. Silva, Helena A. P. Batatinha, Ayane S. Resende, Antônio H. Lancha-Junior, José C. R. Neto, Sergio Tufik, and Ronaldo V. Thomatieli-Santos. 2025. "Probiotic Supplementation Can Alter Inflammation Parameters and Self-Reported Sleep After a Marathon: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Study" Nutrients 17, no. 23: 3762. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu17233762

APA Style

Aquino-Lemos, V., Leite, G. S. F., Silva, E. T., Batatinha, H. A. P., Resende, A. S., Lancha-Junior, A. H., Neto, J. C. R., Tufik, S., & Thomatieli-Santos, R. V. (2025). Probiotic Supplementation Can Alter Inflammation Parameters and Self-Reported Sleep After a Marathon: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Study. Nutrients, 17(23), 3762. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu17233762

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