Probiotics-focused biotech FitBiomics has proven that its Lactobacillius probiotic, Nella, boosts a user's gut health and sleep quality simultaneously.
The results of the clinical trial, which are published in the journal Microbiome, looked into how the tailored probiotic benefitted both athletes and non-athletes — finding that daily supplementation with Nella could enhance energy levels and improve sleep quality.
The technology behind Nella was developed and spun out of Harvard's Wyss Institute, where researchers studied the microbiome of elite athletes.
This study, according to FitBiomics, is the first to clinically validate the potential of probiotic supplementation in benefitting both gut and sleep health.
Catching some Z's with the help of Lactobacillius
In the chaos of the modern world, many find it difficult to balance their work and social life with their sleep schedule — which can often result in poor sleep quality.
With 1 in 3 adults now predicted to experience insomnia symptoms globally, there is a clear need for science-backed solutions that can encourage a restful night's sleep.
To determine how Nella may affect sleep quality, 257 active participants were given a once-daily course of probiotics for two weeks; some participants received the low dose of 10bn cfu per capsule, while others received 35 bn cfu per capsule during the study.
Volunteers were asked to fill out experience surveys before, during and after the trial period, allowing scientists to compare their progress with baseline survey repsonses.
When comparing baseline survey responses with post-trial iterations, there was a notable change in sleep quality reported by participants — with an average increase of 69% amongst the probiotic cohorts.
Volunteers also reported a 31% increase in energy levels and a boost in bowel movement regularity by 37%.
These results suggest that the probiotic strain had a significant impact on overall health and wellbeing, while also contributing specifically to cognition owing to its impact on sleep quality.
Effects also seen in professional footballers
As well as determining Nella's impacts in a standard cohort, researchers also wanted to explore the impacts of the probiotic on professional athletes.
To achieve this, they tested how the strain would impact 11 footballers — with participants receiving four capsules a week for 24 weeks.
The results of this longitudinal study further backed the probiotic's efficacy, with survey scores significantly improving for general health, sleep quality, bowel movements and energy levels post-supplementation.
Blood biomarker analysis also revealed that probiotic use reduced oxidative stress in the body, while also supporting exercise recovery.
Co-founder and CEO of FitBiomics, Jonathan Scheiman, commented: "This publication not only underscores FitBiomics' commitment to advancing science-backed wellness solutions through peer reviewed validation; it also marks a new chapter in our ability to rapidly translate the microbial attributes of the most fit people in the world into preventative medicine solutions to benefit everyone,"
"Our research shows the profound impact of Nella on the microbiome outside of just 'the gut,' with brain and immune benefits."
References
1 https://microbiomejournal.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s40168-024-01936-4
2 https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/12119-insomnia