Yeast protein improves musculoskeletal and systemic functions in mice

Yeast protein (YP) is rich in high-quality protein and a variety of bioactive compounds and has been shown to confer beneficial effects on overall health. In this study, we systematically evaluated the comprehensive health benefits of YP in mice through a one-month dietary intervention. The results demonstrated that YP supplementation improved muscle strength, bone mineral density, bone mineral content, and the proportion of lean mass in mice. Moreover, it effectively ameliorated pathological morphology in multiple tissues and organs, alleviated fibrosis, and downregulated the expression of senescence-associated biomarkers, including SA-β-gal, p16, p53, p21, and γ-H2AX. Importantly, YP intervention modulated the gut microbiota composition, notably enriching beneficial bacteria such as Akkermansia. Spearman correlation analysis further indicated that the YP-enriched beneficial bacteria were significantly associated with improved health parameters in mice. In conclusion, dietary YP intervention effectively enhanced the overall health status of mice, providing substantive evidence supporting its potential in mitigating musculoskeletal aging.