Development of ergogenic aid with the addition of probiotic strains and zinc for endurance athletes

Abstract

Supplementation with specific probiotics, such as Bifidobacterium animalis, Lactobacillus helveticus, and Lactobacillus casei Shirota, has been shown to decrease the frequency, severity, and duration of Upper Respiratory Tract Infections (URTIs). URTIs affect 35% to 65% of endurance athletes during their sports career, induced by strenuous exercise, digestive tract stress, and altered gut microbiota. The high cost, effective dose, stability, and viability of probiotics limit their use in athletes.Therefore, the objective was to design a prototype ergogenic aid based on specific probiotic strains and zinc, aimed at endurance athletes.Methodology: A documentary review and expert surveys were carried out for the development of the formulations and selection of the prototype. This prototype was subjected to probiotic activity tests, and nutritional and sensory analysis by the target population. The results, expressed through descriptive statistics and bivariate analyses based on the $p$-value ($>0.05$), revealed that there were no statistically significant differences in the attributes of appearance, odor, and taste among the selected formulas. Finally, a powdered functional food was obtained, an excellent source of zinc (56.4% of the NRV-N / 56.4% of the Nutrient Reference Value - Needs) and containing $1.45 \times 10^6$ CFU of different probiotic strains, with good sensory acceptance and purchase intention by the target population.