The science

Veillonella, the lactate metaboliser.

From Harvard research to Rhythm Health: exploring the gut microbiome's role in energy metabolism.

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Veillonella, the lactate metaboliser: the lactate to propionate pathway beside Rhythm Health LifeShot bottles

Fatigue is an epidemic that broadly impacts society.

Dr. Jonathan Scheiman, Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering at Harvard University

Research from the Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering at Harvard University identifiedVeillonella as a gut bacterium of scientific interest in exercise metabolism. Published inNature Medicine in 2019, the study explored how Veillonella can metabolise lactate, a natural by-product produced during exercise, and convert it into beneficial short-chain fatty acids, including propionate.

This discovery has helped increase scientific interest in the role the gut microbiome may play in energy metabolism, physical performance, recovery, and overall wellbeing.

From global research to Rhythm Health

At Rhythm Health, LifeShot 200 Billion was evaluated in a real-world fermented food study conducted by the London South Bank University Bowels & Brains Unit, led by Adri Bester and funded by the EU.

During the 4-week study, participants consumed LifeShot 200 Billion daily. The study observed changes in gut microbiome markers, including a reported natural increase in Veillonella spp. by 55%.

+55%reported increase in Veillonella spp. over four weeks

Two independent lines of research. One promising microbe.

Harvard University Research, 2019

  • Identified Veillonella as a gut bacterium of scientific interest
  • Published in Nature Medicine
  • Explored how Veillonella metabolises lactate
  • Showed Veillonella can convert lactate into beneficial short-chain fatty acids
  • Increased scientific interest in the gut microbiome's role in energy metabolism

Harvard 2015 Study on Boston Marathon Runners

  • The study included 15 Boston Marathon runners
  • Veillonella increased in runners after the Boston Marathon
  • Veillonella can use exercise-produced lactate as fuel
  • It can convert lactate into propionate, a short-chain fatty acid
  • The study linked gut bacteria with exercise metabolism and performance
  • Human findings were observational; performance improvement was shown in mice

Rhythm Health Research

  • Real-world fermented food study
  • Conducted by London South Bank University Bowels & Brains Unit
  • Led by Adri Bester
  • Supported through EU funding
  • 15 participants
  • 4-week study period
  • Participants consumed LifeShot 200 Billion daily
  • Reported increase in Veillonella spp. within the gut microbiome

The research at a glance

The full Veillonella story, from Harvard's lactate discovery to Rhythm Health's real-world result, in one view.

Veillonella, the lactate metaboliser: infographic summarising the Harvard research, the lactate-to-propionate pathway, and Rhythm Health's study

Why does this matter?

Veillonella spp. has growing scientific interest because of its natural ability to use lactate as an energy source and produce the short-chain fatty acid propionate, which is part of a known metabolic pathway linked to energy metabolism.

One of the UK's highest-strength live culture shots

Rhythm Health LifeShot 200 Billion is a high-strength, plant-based fermented coconut kefir shot made with live dairy-free kefir cultures. Each 100ml LifeShot is designed to deliver a powerful daily serving of live cultures, with our most potent shot containing 200 billion live cultures.

Compared with many well-known UK gut health shots, which commonly contain around 10 to 20 billion live bacteria per daily serving, LifeShot 200 Billion offers a significantly higher stated live culture count per shot.

200bnLifeShot 200 Billionper 100ml shot (most potent)
20bnYakultstated, per 65ml bottle (L. casei Shirota)
20bnActimelstated, per shot (L. casei)
10bnSymprovestated, per 70ml serving (live CFU)

For example, Yakult states that each 65ml bottle contains at least 20 billion L. casei Shirota bacteria, Actimel states that its shots contain 20 billion L. casei cultures, and Symprove states that a 70ml serving contains around 10 billion live colony-forming units. This makes Rhythm Health LifeShot 200 Billion one of the UK's highest-strength live culture shots by stated culture count. Made from tender young coconut milk and live dairy-free kefir cultures, LifeShot is plant-based, dairy-free, and designed as a simple daily shot to support your gut health routine as part of a balanced lifestyle.

See the science for yourself.

Shop LifeShot View the gut-brain study

Research references

  1. Scheiman, J. et al. (2019). Meta-omics analysis of elite athletes identifies a performance-enhancing microbe that functions via lactate metabolism. Nature Medicine.PubMedPMC full textDOI
  2. Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering at Harvard University. Discovery of performance-enhancing bacteria in the human microbiome.wyss.harvard.edu
  3. Harvard Gazette. Study finds performance-enhancing bacteria in the human microbiome (2019).news.harvard.edu
  4. Gross, K. et al. (2024). Impact of probiotic Veillonella atypica FB0054 supplementation on anaerobic capacity and lactate. iScience.PMC full textPubMed
  5. Bester, A. et al. (2026). Real-World Fermented Foods and Their Impact on Gut Microbiome, Mood, Cognition and Gastrointestinal Symptoms. Preprints.preprints.org
  6. UK Data Service. Effects of Short-Term Consumption of Retail-Available Fermented Foods on Cognition, Mood, and the Gut Microbiome: An Exploratory Pilot Study.UK Data Service