Writing in the Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology, researchers from Seoul-based Kookmin University and Kookmin Bio reported that KLP-KM2, a postbiotic formulation of Lactiplantibacillus plantarum KM2 derived from aged beef, may “enhance energy metabolism and mobility in older adults.”
L. plantarum is a well-studied probiotic that has gained attention for its benefits for exercise performance, https://www.nutraingredients.com/Article/2024/04/18/Lactiplantibacillus-probiotic-may-support-weight-management-Study/, constipation and alleviating symptoms in specific medical conditions.
However, live bacteria may pose a risk to some people, such as older adults and those with compromised immune systems, and researchers are keen to identify safe alternatives such as postbiotics.
The current study used L. plantarum to produce the postbiotic KLP-KM2 and found that 12 weeks of supplementation promoted the prevalence of the Veillonella species of bacteria.
This species has previously been linked to muscle and energy benefits due to its short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) production.
Benefits of postbiotics
The International Scientific Association for Probiotics and Prebiotics (ISAPP) defines a postbiotic as a “preparation of inanimate microorganisms and/or their components that confers a health benefit on the host.”
Postbiotics are inactivated microbial cells with or without metabolites that contribute to demonstrated health benefits. They can be administered to the gut, mouth, skin, nose or urogenital tract to modulate the immune system, enhance epithelial barriers, support the gut and synergize with indigenous microbiota.
The current study noted that postbiotics do not carry the potential risk of infections such as sepsis and bacteremia, which some studies show is more prevalent in people taking probiotics, although it is still infrequent.
Postbiotics may also be preferential for older adults whose immune function has declined due to immunosenescence, which is changes in cell function caused by aging.
Study details
The randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study evaluated a postbiotic consisting of a heat-treated L. plantarum KM2 fermentation complex, KLP-KM2. Eighty participants age 50 and above took 9 g of either KLP-KM2 or placebo, divided into two doses per day, for 12 weeks.
Some subjects were excluded for reasons such as medications and withdrawal of consent, resulting in 66 participants. Researchers used stool samples, metagenomic sequencing, self-reports and clinical assessments to evaluate the effects of the postbiotic and any adverse events.
Analysis of adverse events and monocyte levels in the initial 80 participants indicated that KLP-KM2 is safe for human use.
They found that the Veillonella species was more prevalent in the KLP-KM2 group, suggesting the lactate in the postbiotic may be responsible, as Veillonella ferments lactate to convert into SCFAs such as acetate and propionate.
The study noted that the Veillonella species promote gut health and are frequently detected in the microbiome of athletes. Its ability to ferment lactate is associated with improvements in exercise performance and muscle fatigue, and previous studies have suggested it may ameliorate muscle wasting.
“The convergence of these documented therapeutic properties with the KLP-KM2-mediated alterations in gut microbiota composition observed in our human trial suggests significant potential for KLP-KM2 as a safe postbiotic intervention in the management of sarcopenia, characterized by age-associated decline in muscle mass, strength and function,” the researchers wrote.
They called for further studies that provide insights into the metabolic pathways relevant to KLP-KM2’s benefits.
IPA World Congress Probiota 2025
Postbiotics is one of the key themes for the upcoming IPA World Congress + Probiota 2025, which will take place in Copenhagen, Feb. 5 to 7.
The Postbiotics session will feature presentations from Professor Simone Guglielmetti from the University of Milano-Bicocca and Professor Maria Rescigno from Humanitas University. Professors Guglielmetti and Rescigno will then join a panel discussion that also features ADM's Dr. Richard Day, Probiotical's Marco Pane and BioGrowing's Hongwei Wang.
Other key sessions will cover longevity and healthspan, the pantryome, bioinformatics, the gut-brain axis, next-gen probiotics, microbiome modulation for athletic performance, the state of the market and much more!
For more information and to register, please click HERE
Source: Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology 2025. 35: e2411069
“Evaluation of the Safety and Impact of Heat-Treated Lactiplantibacillus plantarum KM2 Fermentation on Gut Microbiome Architecture”
Authors: S. Won et al.