Is physical performance (in mice) increased by Veillonella atypica or decreased by Lactobacillus bulgaricus?

J Sport Health Sci. 2020 May;9(3):197-200. doi: 10.1016/j.jshs.2020.02.005. Epub 2020 Feb 20.

¹ Department of Functional Biology, Physiology, University of Oviedo, Asturias 33006, Spain; Health Research Institute of the Principality of Asturias (ISPA), Asturias 33011, Spain.
² Health Research Institute of the Principality of Asturias (ISPA), Asturias 33011, Spain; Department of Functional Biology, Microbiology, University of Oviedo, Oviedo 33006, Spain.
³ Department of Functional Biology, Physiology, University of Oviedo, Asturias 33006, Spain; Health Research Institute of the Principality of Asturias (ISPA), Asturias 33011, Spain. Electronic address: tomascristina@uniovi.es.
⁴ Health Research Institute of the Principality of Asturias (ISPA), Asturias 33011, Spain; Department of Morphology and Cell Biology, Anatomy, University of Oviedo, Oviedo 33006, Spain.

Abstract

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In this commentary, we discuss some controversial issues about the performance-enhancing role of the lactate-consuming bacteria Veillonella.
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The relative abundance of Veillonella in human stool samples was not associated with training status or endurance performance.
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In studying the effect on performance of Veillonella supplementation in mice, we found that Lactobacillus bulgaricus creates a biased control due to its interference in lactate metabolism and its influence on endurance performance.
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In the absence of a vehicle-treated mouse group and ignoring the response to exercise of the native microbiota, the role of Veillonella atypica administration in maximal endurance performance in nontrained mice cannot be elucidated.