Breast Milk Probiotic: A Gamechanger for Muscle Power in Aging
You might be wondering what a probiotic has to do with a longer, more vital life. A recent research study sheds new light on this question, and it could be especially exciting if you want to maintain or even improve your muscle health into old age. In fact, a study shows that a probiotic called Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. Lactis Probio-M8 (short: Probio-M8), derived from human breast milk, can lead to positive changes in older patients with sarcopenia — a condition in which muscle mass and strength are lost.
What is sarcopenia?
Sarcopenia is an age-related condition characterized by a loss of muscle mass and muscle strength. Those affected often struggle with reduced mobility, faster fatigue, and an increased risk of falling. The problem is more widespread than you might think: a significant portion of the population over 60 is estimated to suffer from it. This muscle degeneration is not just a question of comfort or vanity; the consequences range from reduced quality of life and difficulties in daily activities to serious health complications.
That’s why it makes sense to do something preventively for your muscles or to treat them specifically if the first signs of sarcopenia are already noticeable. You can probably imagine that measures such as strength training, a balanced diet, and sufficient protein are important building blocks. But now probiotic approaches are moving more into the spotlight: a growing number of scientific publications highlights the potential of probiotics to influence the gut flora in such a way that muscles benefit.
Why the gut can be crucial for your muscles
A healthy gut is the foundation for a strong immune system and efficient nutrient absorption. A variety of microorganisms live here, your so-called gut microbiome, which has a huge impact on almost all areas of your health — including your muscular system. The latest research suggests that certain bacteria in your gut produce anti-inflammatory and metabolism-regulating substances. These substances can in turn promote muscle protein synthesis or counteract age-related muscle loss.
If you “feed” your gut with the right microbes, your whole body can benefit. That might sound simple at first, but of course, there’s a highly complex biology behind it. A central candidate that has now caught the attention of researchers is the probiotic Probio-M8. It is derived from human breast milk and has already shown positive effects on bone metabolism and on neurodegenerative diseases like Parkinson’s in initial studies. These findings raise high expectations, especially regarding the muscle health of older people.
The probiotic Probio-M8: A potential gamechanger?
If you’re wondering what exactly this probiotic is: Probio-M8 belongs to the Bifidobacteria, which often dominate the gut of infants in the early stages of life. What makes it special is that this strain was isolated from human breast milk and could therefore be particularly well accepted by the body. Research indicates that Probio-M8 may increase anti-inflammatory and antioxidant agents in the body — all factors that could help slow the aging process.
Anti-aging effects: Studies in mice
Scientists often test potential therapies on mice before they move on to clinical application in humans. In this particular study, 19-month-old mice (which would be considered quite old in human years) received the probiotic for four weeks. The exciting result: their muscle function improved, and there were signs of reduced cell aging (senescence). Although there were hardly any differences in inflammation markers between the treatment group and the control group, this might indicate that the real effect lies in other mechanisms — for example, in regulating certain metabolic processes.
From the mouse lab to humans: Initial clinical results
The promising findings from the mouse studies led to a small test series involving 43 older individuals with clinically confirmed sarcopenia. After 60 days of taking Probio-M8, at least some parameters of muscle health improved. The so-called “Five Times Sit-to-Stand Test” showed about a 16% reduction in the time needed by the treated patients. For you in everyday life, this means that these individuals were obviously able to get moving faster, indicating stronger muscles in the lower extremities.
However, not all measurements were that striking: grip strength, muscle mass, and body mass index remained unchanged during this period. That might sound sobering at first, but it could simply mean that longer-term studies are needed or that additional factors such as targeted strength training or a protein-rich diet might further enhance the effect. In short: the result is a glimmer of hope, but not a final miracle cure.
Microbiome and metabolites: The underestimated impact
Surprisingly, the tested individuals’ gut microbiome showed hardly any major shifts in species diversity after the 60-day probiotic intake. Instead, more significant differences were found in what are known as metabolites. Metabolites are small molecules, often intermediate or end products of your metabolism, which can perform signaling and regulatory tasks.
Some of the substances that increased in the subjects are anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer, or antioxidant in nature — and can therefore be beneficial for muscle health. Particularly interesting is the effect on the creatine concentration in the blood. Creatine plays a central role in muscle metabolism, as it supports the short-term energy supply of muscles and can contribute to improved protein synthesis.
Creatine as a key: How the probiotic and the gut microbiome interact
Laboratory analyses revealed that a harmful molecule called n-Dodecyl-l-Homoserin-Lactone (HSL) might block the transport of creatine in the gut. So if too much HSL is present, creatine can’t be optimally absorbed by your intestinal cells and passed on into the bloodstream. This is precisely where the probiotic cultures appear to intervene: they may reduce the concentration of this harmful molecule, thereby facilitating creatine transport.
Creatine is valued not only by athletes (e.g., bodybuilders) but could also be helpful especially for older adults struggling with sarcopenia. Because more creatine in the serum potentially means more muscle performance, higher protein synthesis, and reduced formation of reactive oxygen species — substances that accelerate cell aging.
Further perspectives: Anti-aging and probiotic therapy
You can see: this field is highly exciting and by no means fully researched. The promising approach of improving muscle mass and strength through probiotics like Probio-M8 raises hope that future therapies for people with early or advanced sarcopenia will go beyond traditional methods.
It’s likely that simply taking a probiotic alone won’t be sufficient as the sole measure against muscle loss — combining it with targeted training, a balanced diet, and other health-promoting strategies makes more sense. Nevertheless, supplements like Probio-M8 could be an additional support by specifically influencing creatine synthesis and kick-starting the anti-aging process.
Conclusion: Fighting sarcopenia with the right probiotic
This new study makes it clear that a probiotic derived from human breast milk, specifically Probio-M8, can produce promising results for older people with sarcopenia. The increased availability of creatine, coupled with better outcomes in the Five Times Sit-to-Stand Test, suggests that probiotic-induced changes in the gut microbiome and associated metabolites could be an important lever. Especially in the context of anti-aging strategies and biohacking, this opens up a new perspective on at least slowing down age-related muscle loss.
If you yourself are interested in better energy metabolism, higher performance, and improved muscle power, the probiotic Probio-M8 could be an exciting addition to your health routine in the future. Although further research is needed to determine precise dosing recommendations and long-term effects, these findings are already a valuable indication that your gut flora and the right composition of bacteria can be decisive for your overall well-being as you age.
Stay active, keep educating yourself, and remember: your lifestyle, diet, and gut health can have a significant influence on how fit you feel in old age. A probiotic like Probio-M8 is just a single but apparently quite promising building block for greater well-being and quality of life.
Sources and further links
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39632843/
https://www.lifespan.io/news/impact-of-a-human-breast-milk-probiotic-on-sarcopenia/
https://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlelanding/2024/fo/d3fo04204a
https://www.webmd.com/vitamins/ai/ingredientmono-891/bifidobacterium-animalis-subsp-lactis
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36334119/
https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/psychology/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2020.570298/full
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39885180/
https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/15/21/4554