Anti‐fatigue effects of fermented soybean protein peptides in mice

Abstract BACKGROUND Bioactive protein hydrolysates and peptides are believed to help counteract and ameliorate physical fatigue. Fermented soybean protein peptides (FSPPs) were prepared by protease hydrolysis and microbial fermentation. The present study aimed to evaluate the anti‐fatigue properties of FSPPs. RESULTS The forced swimming time in the FSPP group was 35.78% longer than the control group, the oxygen‐resistant survival time of the FSPP group was significantly prolonged and the prolongation rate was 31.00%. In addition, FSPPs decreased the lactic acid (LD), blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and creatine kinase (CK) concentration by 27.47%, 25.93% and 21.70%, respectively, after treatment, while increasing the levels of liver glycogen and muscle glycogen by 93.35% and 67.31%, respectively. FSPPs can significantly increase gut microbiota diversity and regulate the species richness of gut microbiota. The results of real‐time polymerase chain reaction (RT‐PCR) and western blotting showed that FSPPs activate p‐AMPK/PGC1‐α and PI3K/Akt/mTOR signaling pathways. CONCLUSION These results indicate that treatment with FSPPs induces anti‐fatigue effects, which may be due to the mediating muscle protein synthesis and participation in skeletal muscle hypertrophy, providing energy for muscle cells. FSPPs may have potential applications in the food industry as functional material additives. © 2021 Society of Chemical Industry.