Supplements

Multi-strain Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium probiotic formulations improve sleep quality in elite athletes

Probiotic interventions with multi-strain Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium formulations enhanced sleep quality in elite athletes, as reported in small-scale randomized controlled trials and a controlled non-randomized study. The evidence is preliminary, with improvements noted in self-reported sleep quality.

Last updated: Jul 30, 2026•1 RCTs•📖 Read as article →

Evidence Score

Evidence Score42/100
Human RCT★★☆☆☆
Meta-analysis☆☆☆☆☆
Mechanism★★★★★
Safety★★★★☆
Confidencelow

Study Evidence

Study 1. From Mechanisms to Practice: Gut Microbiome-Based Strategies for Supporting Recovery in Elite Athletes.

observational

Carlone J, Sgrò P, Parisi A, Fasano A · Nutrients (2026)

Participants: N/A
Duration: N/A
Intervention: Multi-strain Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium probiotic formulations
Outcome: Sleep quality (self-reported)
Effect Size: N/A
Population: Elite athletes

Result:

PubMed: 42514472DOI: 10.3390/nu18142403

Mechanism Graph

Probiotics modulate gut microbiota composition
↓
Gut-brain axis regulates neurotransmitter production
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Gut-brain axis controls circadian rhythms
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Improved sleep quality

Limitations

  • ⚠Small-scale trials with limited sample sizes
  • ⚠One study was non-randomized, reducing causal inference
  • ⚠Self-reported sleep quality may be subjective

Frequently Asked Questions

What specific probiotic strains were used?▼

The abstract mentions multi-strain formulations of Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium, but does not specify exact strains.

How was sleep quality measured?▼

Sleep quality was assessed via self-report, not objective measures like polysomnography.

Are these findings applicable to non-elite athletes?▼

The study focused on elite athletes, so generalizability to other populations is uncertain.

What is the proposed mechanism for sleep improvement?▼

The gut-brain axis is proposed to modulate sleep by regulating neurotransmitter production and controlling circadian rhythms.

Products

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References

  1. 1.Carlone J, Sgrò P, Parisi A, Fasano A. "From Mechanisms to Practice: Gut Microbiome-Based Strategies for Supporting Recovery in Elite Athletes.." Nutrients, 2026. PMID: 42514472 DOI: 10.3390/nu18142403
Disclaimer: This content is for educational purposes only and is not medical advice. Evidence scores reflect the quality and quantity of available research, not clinical recommendations. Always consult a healthcare professional before starting any supplement or intervention.