CONCLUSIONS
muscle gain, fatigue
In this study, we investigated whether administration of heat‐killed TWK10 exerted comparable effects to viable cells on exercise performance and health promotion in a double‐blind placebo‐controlled clinical trial. We confirmed that the administration of 30 billion cells of heat‐killed TWK10 for 6 weeks significantly reduced physical fatigue and improved exercise endurance capacity and handgrip strength in healthy humans without specific exercise training. Furthermore, consecutive administration of heat‐killed TWK10 significantly increased overall muscle weight in the absence of exercise intervention in the human body. By administration of heat‐killed TWK10, sufficient ergogenic effects comparable to 10 times higher doses of viable or heat‐killed cells were exerted in healthy adults without specific exercise training. Therefore, heat‐killed TWK10 could be considered as a potential ergogenic aid for improving aerobic endurance performance and as a potential effective nutritional supplement for muscle gain. Further investigation is required to address the functionality and understand the mechanisms underlying the beneficial effects of heat‐killed TWK10.