"DUOLAC Proven to Improve Muscle Strength"Cell Biotech Presents Research Findings at International Conference

Cell Biotech announced the results of a human clinical trial demonstrating the muscle-strengthening effects of its probiotic brand DUOLAC at the Central Asian Gastroenterology Week 2025 (CAGW 2025) held in Almaty, Kazakhstan.

The study provides clinical evidence for the gut–muscle axis theory, which suggests that the gut microbiome influences muscle formation and function. The findings highlight that probiotics may contribute not only to gut health but also to the enhancement of muscle function—a meaningful advancement in probiotic research.

Researchers at the Cell Biotech R&D Center confirmed that the probiotic strains used in DUOLAC,

CBT-LGA1 (KCTC 12936BP) and CBT-LGA2 (KFCC 11983P), may help improve muscle strength.

In a preclinical study using an animal model of muscle loss, subjects treated with CBT probiotics showed significant increases in muscle mass, muscle strength, muscle fiber cross-sectional area, and muscle protein synthesis, while also exhibiting a reduction in muscle protein degradation compared to the control group.

The subsequent human clinical trial, conducted at Kyung Hee University Hospital and Dong-A University Hospital, involved 150 healthy men and women over a 12-week, randomized, placebo-controlled period.

Participants who consumed CBT probiotics demonstrated significant improvements in key strength indicators, including a 15.25% increase in hamstring strength and an 8.5% increase in grip strength compared to the placebo group. Additionally, the “sit-to-stand” test—an indicator of overall muscular function—improved by 18.6%.

Analysis of the participants’ gut microbiomes revealed further positive effects.

The intake group showed a notable increase in beneficial bacteria such as Lactobacillus, and these changes were closely correlated with improvements in muscle strength metrics.

These findings suggest that CBT probiotics may enhance muscle function both directly and indirectly by improving the gut environment, presenting strong potential as a dietary strategy for muscle health management.

A representative from the Cell Biotech R&D Center stated,

“This study is meaningful in that it demonstrates probiotics can go beyond promoting gut health to support muscle function and help prevent age-related muscle loss. The fact that DUOLAC’s CBT probiotics improved muscle health through gut microbiome modulation opens up new directions for future probiotic research.”

Founded in 1995, Cell Biotech was the first company in Korea to achieve mass production of probiotics and currently exports its K-Probiotics to over 55 countries worldwide. Its flagship brand DUOLAC, known for its “Strong Probiotics” concept, has set a new standard for probiotic efficacy and intestinal survivability. Recently, DUOLAC launched a new advertising campaign featuring actor Son Suk-ku, reinforcing its message as “the new standard for good probiotics.”