# A Probiotic in Fermented Milk Protected Muscle in Mice by Reshaping Bile Acids

*Bile salt hydrolase-active bifidobacterium animalis improves sarcopenia via the gut microbiota-bile acid-FXR-FGF15 axis and its functional fermented milk preparation.*

- **Evidence Level**: Preliminary
- **Publication Types**: Journal Article
- **Journal**: Food chemistry
- **Sample Size**: Mice with dexamethasone-induced muscle wasting (number not stated)
- **Authors**: Hua Q, Ma Q, Yi H, Zhang L, Liang X, Zhang Z
- **Published**: 2026-07-28
- **Topics**: probiotics, sarcopenia, gut microbiome
- **DOI**: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodchem.2026.150594
- **Original Source**: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/42531634/

## Summary

Certain probiotic strains changed the mix of bile acids in the gut, which flipped a signal that told muscle to stop breaking down protein. In mice with drug-induced muscle wasting, two Bifidobacterium strains preserved muscle mass and fiber size. The researchers also turned them into a fermented milk that tasted fine in testing. This is early animal work, so it says nothing yet about human muscle loss with age.

## Practical Takeaway

This early animal work hints gut bacteria may influence age-related muscle loss.

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