Bacteroides acidifaciens derived succinic acid mediates polysaccharides from GPMP induced muscle fiber switching and exercise endurance enhancement

ABSTRACT: Enhancing exercise endurance holds significant practical implications for boosting the physical fitness of the general population to address daily challenges and improving the physical capabilities and quality of life of patients with relevant diseases. Polysaccharides from Gynostemma pentaphyllum Makino (GPMP) have been shown to increase the expression of slow muscle fibers in muscles. However, the underlying mechanism remains to be further investigated. Previous research has indicated that alterations in the gut microbiota are closely intertwined with the improvement of muscle endurance. In this study, we demonstrate that GPMP enriches B. acidifaciens in the murine gut, showing a notable association with muscle endurance. Subsequently, we identified that succinic acid, a key metabolite of B. acidifaciens, can effectively enhance the exercise endurance of mice and the antioxidant capacity of their muscles, protecting the muscles from damage induced by strenuous exercise. Specifically, succinic acid enters the circulatory system and acts upon skeletal muscles, activating the non-canonical Wnt signaling pathway. This activation leads to an increase in slow muscle fibers and an elevation of the oxidative phosphorylation level in muscle tissues, ultimately contributing to the improvement of exercise endurance. Moreover, we observed similar increases in B. acidifaciens and succinic acid in the feces and sera of endurance athletes. Overall, these findings uncover that GPMP modulates the body's exercise endurance through specific gut microbiota and their metabolites, thereby establishing a regulatory mechanism of host exercise endurance by gut microbiota.

ORGANISM(S): Mus Musculus

SUBMITTER: Xiaoya Shang  

PROVIDER: PXD070009 | iProX | Tue Oct 28 00:00:00 GMT 2025

REPOSITORIES: iProX