Probiotics & Performance: Why Gut Health Matters for Athletes

Powering Athletes from the Inside Out

The Hidden Driver of Athletic Performance

In the world of performance nutrition, protein, collagen, and electrolyte supplements, creatine powders, and pre-workout formulas, are top of mind for most, due to targeted performance benefits. Few, however, consider supplements aimed at supporting the powerful system driving all of it: the gut.

As science continues to uncover how gut health affects energy metabolism, immune strength and function, the body’s immune response, and even cognitive health and focus, one thing is clear: performance starts within.

Probiotics, usually associated with gut and immune health, are now gaining traction in sports performance, recovery, and healthy immune support. Growing research into the gut-overall health connection reveals its influence on energy, muscle recovery, mood, and even sleep, which are all crucial for athletes striving for their next level. Sports nutrition is shifting toward a more holistic, functional foundation, and probiotics are at the center of that evolution.

The Unique Demands of Athletics on the Gut

Athletes place extraordinary demands on their bodies, and their digestive systems are no exception.

Exercise is a physical stressor that supports overall human health, but it also places unique demands on the gastrointestinal tract (GIT). Endurance sports such as extended swimming, running, and cycling induce higher amounts of stress on the human body and can affect the GIT.¹ ² Stress during exercise has a direct effect on the autonomic and enteric nervous systems. During this process, neurotransmitters are released and communication occurs through the vagus nerve, gut hormones, and gut microbiota substrates.¹

Occasional GIT complaints during exercise are common and can impact athletic performance and recovery. Long, high-intensity training sessions, heavy travel, and high-protein, low-fiber diets can stress the gut and immune system, potentially derailing performance before an athlete even steps on the field.

High-protein, low-fiber diets, while beneficial for energy and muscle recovery, can reduce gut microbial diversity and lower levels of short-chain fatty acid-producing bacteria. Exercise-induced stress may also dysregulate gut barrier function, contributing to unhealthy inflammatory responses, improper nutrient absorption, occasional bloating, and discomfort.

What Are Probiotics, and Why Do They Matter for Athletes?

Probiotics are live microorganisms that, when introduced to the body, may support gut health and microbial balance. They help maintain a thriving gut environment by assisting digestion, supporting nutrient absorption, and bolstering immune strength.*

But for athletes, the benefits go even deeper. The gut communicates directly with the brain through the gut-brain axis: a two-way system mediated by the vagus nerve that influences mood, focus, resilience, and even decision-making under stress. When the gut is out of balance, it can affect mental clarity and physical performance alike.

For this reason, athletes need more than general probiotics, they need a formula that can withstand their training load, diet, demanding schedules, and travel. The right probiotic, taken in the right amount, with the right delivery system, may support athletic performance indirectly by helping to balance immune function, support upper respiratory tract health, support mood, and help protect cells from the normal effects of oxidative stress.1–3 

The International Society of Sports Nutrition (ISSN) supports the use of probiotics as a health-supporting supplement for athletes, due to their potential to support immune status, nutrient status, recovery following muscle-damaging exercise, and gut health.³

Introducing DFS Probiotic 50 — Engineered for Athletes

High-performance, once-daily probiotic capsule to power active individuals from the inside out.*

Engineered for athletes, DFS Probiotic 50 is a highly potent, shelf-stable, dairy-free probiotic that delivers 50 billion CFUs from 10 clinically researched strains per capsule. Designed to support serious training and performance goals, Probiotic 50:

• Powers athletic performance, starting in the gut*

• Promotes healthy post-exercise inflammatory responses through a balanced microbiome*

• Restores microbial balance after training, travel, or occasional stress*

• May help reduce occasional bloating and GI discomfort common in protein-rich diets*

• Supports healthy gut-brain axis signaling for mental resilience and focus*

• Maximizes nutrient absorption (amino acids, minerals, and performance nutrients)*

Why CFU Count and Strain Diversity Matter

CFU stands for colony-forming unit: a measure of live, active probiotic cells that can grow and form a visible colony, and higher counts potentially offer more targeted gut and immune health support. While most sports probiotics contain 15 billion CFUs or less, DFS Probiotic 50 delivers 50 billion CFUs, at clinically validated levels for broad-acting support.*

Equally important is strain diversity. DFS Probiotic 50 combines 10 commensal probiotic strains, meaning they thrive together, benefiting without harming each other. These strains have been carefully chosen for athletes based on clinical research showing their resilience against stomach acid and bile salts, ensuring more live bacteria reach the gut where they matter most.

We fully disclose every strain and its CFU count. Every ingredient, every strain, and every detail of this formula is designed to help athletes bounce back faster and stay locked in from the inside out.*

Breaking Down The 10 Probiotics in DFS Probiotic 50

Built for Real-World Demands

DFS Probiotic 50 is powerful and practical:

• Delayed-release capsules: Promote optimal survivability, allowing more probiotic cells to reach the lower GI tract alive.*
  

• State-of-the-art, moisture-, oxygen-, and light-resistant, desiccant-lined packaging: Keeps potency intact, extends shelf life, and requires no refrigeration
  

• NSF Certified for Sport®: Every batch is tested against 280+ banned substances for peace of mind.

Practical Tips for Athletes

Recommended Use:
As a dietary supplement, take 1 capsule per day with a meal, or as directed by your health care practitioner.

The #1 key is establishing consistent daily intake. Find a time of day that works for you to ingrain into your routine.

At breakfast: Take your capsule with your first meal of the day to help establish a morning routine. Taking it with a meal containing healthy fats, such as eggs and avocado, or prebiotic-rich foods like oats, may also aid probiotic survival.

At dinner: For those who rush in the morning, taking the capsule with dinner is a great alternative.

Pair it with:

• L-Glutamine Powder: Supports gut barrier integrity and muscle recovery*
  

• NeuroMag™ Sport: For focus, clarity, and sleep quality*
  

• Collagen Complex™: For joint, bone, and connective tissue health*
  

• Omega Hi-Po: For cardiovascular and inflammatory support*
  

• Vitamin D3 Pro: For bone integrity, immune health, and muscle function*

Together, these core products support foundational health and performance resilience, helping athletes train smarter and recover stronger.*

Discover DFS Probiotic 50 → www.designsforsport.com

*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.*

References:

1. Clark A, Mach N. Exercise-induced stress behavior, gut-microbiota-brain axis and diet: a systematic review for athletes. J Int Soc Sports Nutr. 2016;13:43. doi:10.1186/s12970-016-0155-6
2. Díaz-Jiménez J, Sánchez-Sánchez E, Ordoñez FJ, et al. Impact of probiotics on the performance of endurance athletes: a systematic review. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2021;18(21):11576. doi:10.3390/ijerph182111576
3. Jäger R, Mohr AE, Carpenter K. International Society of Sports Nutrition Position Stand: Probiotics. J Int Soc Sports Nutr. 2019;16(1):62. doi:10.1186/s12970-019-0329-0
4. Zhao W, Peng C, Sakandar HA, Kwok LY, Zhang W. Meta-analysis: randomized trials of Lactobacillus plantarum on immune regulation over the last decades. Front Immunol. 2021;12:643420. doi:10.3389/fimmu.2021.643420
5. Paineau D, Carcano D, Leyer G, et al. Effects of seven potential probiotic strains on specific immune responses in healthy adults: a double-blind, randomized, controlled trial. FEMS Immunol Med Microbiol. 2008;53(1):107-113. doi:10.1111/j.1574-695X.2008.00413.x
6. Batatinha H, Tavares-Silva E, Leite GSF, et al. Probiotic supplementation in marathonists and its impact on lymphocyte population and function after a marathon: a randomized placebo-controlled double-blind study. Sci Rep. 2020;10(1):18777. doi:10.1038/s41598-020-75464-0
7. Guo YT, Peng YC, Yen HY, Wu JC, Hou WH. Effects of probiotic supplementation on immune and inflammatory markers in athletes: a meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials. Medicina (Kaunas). 2022;58(9):1188. doi:10.3390/medicina58091188
8. Jäger R, Zaragoza J, Purpura M, et al. Probiotic administration increases amino acid absorption from plant protein: a placebo-controlled, randomized, double-blind, multicenter, crossover study. Probiotics Antimicrob Proteins. 2020;12(4):1330-1339. doi:10.1007/s12602-020-09656-5
9. Vaisberg M, Paixão V, Almeida EB, et al. Daily intake of fermented milk containing Lactobacillus casei Shirota (Lcs) modulates systemic and upper airways immune/inflammatory responses in marathon runners. Nutrients. 2019;11(7):1678. doi:10.3390/nu11071678
   
10. Yang Y, Song X, Wang G, Xia Y, Xiong Z, Ai L. Understanding Ligilactobacillus salivarius from probiotic properties to omics technology: a review. Foods. 2024;13(6):895. doi:10.3390/foods13060895
11. Nishihara T, Suzuki N, Yoneda M, Hirofuji T. Effects of Lactobacillus salivarius-containing tablets on caries risk factors: a randomized open-label clinical trial. BMC Oral Health. 2014;14(1):110. doi:10.1186/1472-6831-14-110
12. Varvara RA, Vodnar DC. Probiotic-driven advancement: exploring the intricacies of mineral absorption in the human body. Food Chem: X. 2024;21:101067. doi:10.1016/j.fochx.2023.101067
13. Wang L, Meng FJ, Jin YH, et al. Effects of probiotic supplementation on 12 min run performance, mood management, body composition and gut microbiota in amateur marathon runners: a double-blind controlled trial. J Exerc Sci Fit. 2024;22(4):297-304. doi:10.1016/j.jesf.2024.04.004
14. Gopal PK, Prasad J, Gill HS. Effects of the consumption of Bifidobacterium lactis HN019 (DR10TM) and galacto-oligosaccharides on the microflora of the gastrointestinal tract in human subjects. Nutr Res. 2003;23(10):1313-1328. doi:10.1016/S0271-5317(03)00134-9
15. Leccese G, Bibi A, Mazza S, et al. Probiotic Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium strains counteract adherent-invasive Escherichia coli (AIEC) virulence and hamper IL-23/Th17 axis in ulcerative colitis, but not in Crohn’s disease. Cells. 2020;9(8):1824. doi:10.3390/cells9081824