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Life sciences · Journal article
Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition · September 6, 2026
Encouraging direction, but not yet definitive.
This randomized trial of 32 combat sports athletes found that probiotic supplementation during a 4-week weight loss phase produced a more significant reduction in body fat percentage, lower triglycerides and LDL cholesterol, higher short-chain fatty acids, and reduced free fatty acids compared to placebo. The results are encouraging but remain preliminary due to small sample size, specialized population, and reliance on surrogate metabolic endpoints rather than clinical outcomes.
Randomized controlled trial. Combat sports athletes participating in a 4-week weight reduction period before competition. Intervention: Probiotic supplementation. Compared with: Placebo. n = 32. Shanghai, China (based on author affiliations with Shanghai University of Sport and Shanghai Seventh People's Hospital).
More significant reduction in body fat percentage observed in probiotic group compared to placebo (p < 0.05) Lower triglyceride and LDL-C levels specifically in probiotic group (p < 0.05) Probiotic group exhibited higher mean values for short-chain fatty acids (acetic acid, propionic acid, butyric acid) compared to placebo (p < 0.05)
Safety was not reported in the material analysed. Check the source before drawing any conclusion about harm.
This trial suggests probiotics may help combat athletes optimize body composition during pre-competition weight loss by preferentially reducing fat while preserving muscle and improving metabolic markers. However, the lack of hard clinical endpoints (performance, injury, recovery) and small specialized sample limit immediate clinical translation; results require confirmation in larger, more diverse athletic populations.
A randomized controlled trial in a small, specialized population (32 combat athletes) showing improvements in body composition and lipid profiles with probiotic supplementation during weight loss, but with surrogate endpoints and limited generalizability.
As stated by the source record.
Quoted from the source exactly as published.
This trial suggests probiotics may help combat athletes optimize body composition during pre-competition weight loss by preferentially reducing fat while preserving muscle and improving metabolic markers. However, the lack of hard clinical endpoints (performance, injury, recovery) and small specialized sample limit immediate clinical translation; results require confirmation in larger, more diverse athletic populations.
Graded across the dimensions that decide whether you should act, each from what the source actually supports. There is no single score, and where a dimension was not assessed it says so.
Purpose. Pre-competition weight control for combat sports athletes may alter body composition and fatty acid metabolism. Probiotics have shown potential to regulate overall metabolism; however, their specific effects on fatty acid metabolism during weight control in athletes remain unclear.Methods. Thirty-two combat sports athletes participating in the 4-week weight reduction period were assigned to either the probiotic group (Group E) or the placebo group (Group C). Body composition, lipid profiles, and fatty acid metabolism were measured before and after the 4-week weight reduction phase.Results. All the athletes experienced a decrease in body weight, body mass index (BMI), body fat percentage, and muscle mass following the 4-week weight loss intervention. Notably, a more significant reduction in body fat percentage (p < 0.05) was observed, along with lower levels of triglycerides (TG) and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), specifically in Group E. Weight loss intervention resulted in increased levels of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), specifically acetic acid, propionic acid, and butyric acid. Notably, Group E exhibited higher mean values for SCFAs compared to Group C (p < 0.05). Additionally, the serum levels of γ-linolenic acid and 8,11,14-eicosatrienoic acid were significantly reduced in Group E (p < 0.05). In contrast, the majority of free fatty acids (FFAs) showed significant increases, with greater magnitudes of change observed in Group C (p < 0.05).Conclusion. Probiotic supplementation can improve body composition, enhance SCFAs levels, and decrease circulating FFAs in combat sports athletes, suggesting that probiotics may have a beneficial impact on pre-competition weight management.Trial registration number. chiCTR2400079908 (Reg Date:2024-01-16).
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