6-SL (6′-Sialyllactose)

Ingredients: 6-Sialyllactose sodium salt.

• Increase Muscle Strength*
• Immune support*
• Enhanced endurance*
• Build Lean Muscle Mass*
• Speed Up Workout Recovery*
• Boost Athletic Performance*
• Reduce Fatigue*

Cited Studies:

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11357526/ https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0006291X24014281 https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/16/17/2957

Scientific Evidence on 6′-Sialyllactose (6-SL) and Muscle Health

Recent peer-reviewed studies have demonstrated that 6′-Sialyllactose (6-SL), a naturally occurring Human Milk Oligosaccharide (HMO), plays an active role in maintaining skeletal muscle health. Beyond its known roles in immunity and gut development, 6-SL has shown significant potential in enhancing muscle mass, preventing atrophy, and reducing fatigue through multiple biological pathways.
The following studies provide experimental evidence supporting these effects.

1. 6′-Sialyllactose Enhances Exercise Performance via Increased Muscle Mass and Strength

(Park E-J et al., 2024. Nutrients 16(16):2600. PMCID: PMC11357526)

A 12-week in-vivo study evaluated the effects of oral 6-SL supplementation (100 mg/kg/day) in male C57BL/6J mice. Compared with controls, 6-SL administration led to a marked improvement in physical performance parameters, including greater running distance, longer exhaustion time, and increased grip strength.

Histological analysis of the gastrocnemius (GAS) and soleus (SOL) muscles revealed a significant increase in muscle mass and fiber diameter, indicating hypertrophic adaptation. Western blot results confirmed an up-regulation of myosin heavy chain (MHC) expression, suggesting enhanced contractile protein synthesis.

Collectively, the study concluded that 6-SL contributes to the promotion of skeletal muscle growth and functional strength, potentially by stimulating myogenic pathways that support endurance and resistance activity.

2. 6′-Sialyllactose Prevents Dexamethasone-Induced Muscle Atrophy

(Go H et al., 2024. Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications. ScienceDirect Link)

To investigate anti-atrophic properties, researchers employed a dexamethasone-induced muscle atrophy model in mice, a well-established system for studying catabolic muscle loss. 6-SL supplementation effectively prevented the reduction in muscle mass and contractile strength typically observed with glucocorticoid exposure.

At the molecular level, 6-SL down-regulated key muscle-degradation markers, including MuRF-1 and Atrogin-1, while up-regulating myogenic differentiation proteins involved in muscle maintenance.
The findings indicate that 6-SL mitigates the catabolic signaling cascade activated by glucocorticoids, thus providing protective effects against muscle wasting and sarcopenia-like degeneration.

3. 6′-Sialyllactose Alleviates Muscle Fatigue and Improves Aerobic Metabolism

(Park E-J et al., 2024. Nutrients 16(17):2957. MDPI Link)

A separate controlled experiment assessed the metabolic effects of 6-SL on exercise-induced fatigue. Mice receiving 6-SL (100 mg/kg/day for 12 weeks) demonstrated significantly lower blood lactate concentrations during and after treadmill exercise, indicating improved aerobic energy utilization.

Additionally, serum blood urea nitrogen (BUN) levels—an indicator of muscle fatigue—were reduced, confirming better metabolic recovery. Western blot analysis of skeletal muscle tissue showed increased expression of slow-twitch (oxidative) myosin heavy chain and elevated protein levels of mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation complexes I, III, IV, and V.

These molecular changes suggest that 6-SL enhances mitochondrial activity and oxidative metabolism, promoting endurance capacity and faster post-exercise recovery.

Overall Interpretation

Across all three independent investigations, 6-Sialyllactose consistently demonstrated anabolic, anti-catabolic, and metabolic benefits for skeletal muscle tissue:

• Muscle hypertrophy: Increased fiber diameter and myofibrillar protein synthesis.

• Atrophy prevention: Inhibition of ubiquitin-proteasome-mediated muscle degradation.

• Fatigue reduction: Decreased lactate and BUN accumulation; enhanced mitochondrial respiration.

Through these mechanisms, 6-SL supports muscle maintenance and performance under both physiological and stress-induced conditions. Although these results are derived from animal studies, they collectively highlight 6-Sialyllactose as a promising compound for the prevention of sarcopenia, muscle atrophy, and exercise-related fatigue.

References

1. Park E-J et al. 6′-Sialyllactose Enhances Exercise Performance via Increased Muscle Mass and Strength. Nutrients, 2024. PMCID: PMC11357526

2. Go H et al. 6′-Sialyllactose Prevents Dexamethasone-Induced Muscle Atrophy. Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications, 2024. ScienceDirect Link

3. Park E-J et al. 6′-Sialyllactose Alleviates Muscle Fatigue through Reduced Blood Lactate Level after Treadmill Exercise in Mice. Nutrients 16(17):2957, 2024. MDPI Link

Expiration: 5-year, store at room temperature.

Suggested Use: Use 2 grams (level small scoop) 2x per day (AM & PM) or Use 3 grams (level large scoop) 2x per day (AM & PM)

6′-Sialyllactose (6-SL), a human milk oligosaccharide (HMO), may enhance athletic performance by promoting muscle protein synthesis, lowering the buildup of lactate (a key cause of muscle fatigue), and speeding up post-exercise recovery. It also supports a healthy gut microbiome, which plays a vital role in regulating muscle energy use and reducing exercise-related inflammation.

6′-Sialyllactose (6′SL) contains sialic acid, a crucial nutrient involved in the formation of gangliosides and the myelination of nerve cells—two key processes that enhance cognitive function and boost the brain’s information processing speed, especially during early development.

Yes! 6′-Sialyllactose (6′SL) goes beyond traditional creatine by supporting muscle development, enhancing recovery, reducing inflammation, and improving endurance through gut-muscle axis support—making it a more effective, holistic performance booster.