Probiotics cuts Respiratory Illness Rates in Endurance Athletes

June 7, 2008

Science News

Probiotic Cuts Respiratory Illness Rates In Endurance Athletes, Study Suggests

ScienceDaily (Feb. 20, 2008) — The probiotic Lactobacillus substantially cuts the rate and length of respiratory illness in professional long distance runners, reveals a small study. Intensive exercise can subdue the normal immune response, and as a result, some athletes are vulnerable to respiratory viruses, such as colds and flu.

During four months of intensive winter training, 20 elite, endurance athletes were given either three freeze dried capsules twice daily of the probiotic Lactobacillus fermentum or a dummy capsule (placebo).

The treatments lasted 28 days each, interspersed by a month of nothing (“washout period”) so that by the end of the period all the athletes had each had the probiotic and the dummy formulation.

Lactobacillus is a lactic acid bacteria that has been used in the treatment of gut infections.

The researchers assessed treadmill performance, immune response, and the length and severity of respiratory tract infections. There was no difference in running performance between those taking the probiotic and those taking the placebo.

But athletes taking the probiotic had less than half the number of days of symptoms of their colleagues taking the placebo.

Respiratory symptoms while taking Lactobacillus lasted 30 days compared with 72 days while taking the placebo. Symptoms also tended to be less severe. The probiotic treatment doubled levels of interferon gamma, an important component of the body’s immune response.

Probiotics seem to increase systemic immunity, possibly by boosting the activity of T cells, say the researchers. The potential of this probiotic to be used as a treatment to ward off illness merits further investigation, they say.

“An improvement in resistance to common illnesses constitutes an important benefit to elite athletes undertaking high level training in preparation for national and international competitions,” they conclude.

Journal reference: Oral administration of the probiotic Lactobacillus fermentum VR1-003 and mucosal immunity in endurance athletes Online First Br J Sports Med 2008; doi 10.1136/bjsm.2007.044628

Adapted from materials provided by British Medical Journal, via Newswise.

Search ScienceDaily

Number of stories in archives: 44,032

Just In: 3-D Computer Chips Cooled With Water

Futuristic Linkage Of Animals And Electronics

White Dwarf Lost In Planetary Nebula

Prehistoric Fish Found With Unborn Embryo

Closest View Of Dust Particles From Other Planet

Molecular 'Ratcheting' Seen In Building Proteins

Memory Training Can Increase Intelligence

Mountain Ranges Rise More Rapidly Than Thought

Science Video News

Breakthrough for Breathing

Doctors can now keep patients who are in respiratory care safer with a new kind of ventilator. Ventilator oxygen is completely dry and needs to be. ... > full story

Psychologists Link Hitting Skills to Vision Microbiologists Invent Coating To Protect Athletes From Infection Immune Modulation Therapy Attacks Link Between Inflammation and Congestive Heart Failure more science videos

Breaking News

.... from NewsDaily.com

Japan's new space lab gets its storage shed Two diabetes trials shed a little light on deaths Phoenix lander scoops up first sample of Mars dirt Mountains could have growth spurts: researchers Headless pyramid attributed to early Egyptian ruler more science news

In Other News ...

Dow falls 394.64 points on jobless rate, record oil Mexico captures U.S. sex offender on FBI wanted list Phoenix lander scoops up first sample of Mars dirt Iraq says it wants to restrict movement of U.S. troops U.S. climate bill dies; hope for 2009 Pentagon chief nears Air Force leader decision Egypt deploys hundreds of policemen on Gaza border Pierce, Garnett lead Celtics past Lakers more top news

Copyright Reuters 2008. See Restrictions.

Free Subscriptions

.... from ScienceDaily

Get the latest science news with our free email newsletters, updated daily and weekly. Or view hourly updated newsfeeds in your RSS reader:

Email Newsletters RSS Newsfeeds

Feedback

.... we want to hear from you!

Tell us what you think of the new ScienceDaily -- we welcome both positive and negative comments. Have any problems using the site? Questions?

Your Name: Your Email: Comments: Click button to submit feedback:

Allergy

Alternative Medicine

Bird Flu

Birth Control

Breast Cancer

Cancer

Diabetes

Diet and Weight Loss

Diseases and Conditions

Fitness

Gene Therapy

Heart Disease

HIV and AIDS

Lung Cancer

Men's Health

Nutrition

Obesity

Pharmacology

Pregnancy and Childbirth

Sexual Health

Skin Care

Stem Cells

Women's Health

.... more topics

ADD and ADHD

Addiction

Alzheimer's

Anxiety

Autism

Depression

Gender Difference

Headaches

Insomnia

Intelligence

Language Acquisition

Parkinson's

Perception

Psychology

Relationships

Schizophrenia

Social Psychology

.... more topics

Agriculture and Food

Animals

Behavior

Biology

Biotechnology

Cell Biology

Cloning

Developmental Biology

Dogs

Dolphins and Whales

Endangered Animals

Extinction

Frogs and Reptiles

Genetically Modified

Marine Biology

Microbes and More

Nature

New Species

Pests and Parasites

Spiders

Zoology

.... more topics

Air Quality

Climate

Coral Reefs

Earthquakes

Ecology

Environmental Science

Geography

Geology

Global Warming

Hurricanes and Cyclones

Ice Ages

Oceanography

Ozone Holes

Pollution

Renewable Energy

Tsunamis

Weather

Wildfires

.... more topics

Astronomy

Astrophysics

Big Bang

Black Holes

Dark Matter

ESA

Extrasolar Planets

Mars

Moon

NASA

Pluto

Saturn

Solar System

Space Missions

Space Station

Space Telescopes

Stars

Sun

.... more topics

Alternative Fuels

Aviation

Biochemistry

Biometric

Chemistry

Detectors

Electronics

Energy Technology

Forensics

Fossil Fuels

Inorganic Chemistry

Nanotechnology

Organic Chemistry

Physics

Quantum Physics

Solar Energy

Technology

Wind Energy

.... more topics

Artificial Intelligence

Communications

Computer Graphics

Computer Modeling

Computer Science

Encryption

Hacking

Mathematics

Quantum Computers

Robotics

Software

Statistics

Video Games

Virtual Reality

.... more topics

Ancient Civilizations

Anthropology

Archaeology

Dinosaurs

Early Climate

Early Humans

Early Mammals

Evolution

Human Evolution

Lost Treasures

Origin of Life

Paleontology

Tyrannosaurus Rex

.... more topics

Post this page to your favorite social bookmarking site:

close

del.icio.us

Digg

Furl

Netscape

My Web

StumbleUpon

Google Bookmarks

Technorati

BlinkList

Newsvine

ma.gnolia

Facebook

Tailrank

Slashdot

Fark

Include this item in your blog or web site:

close

Title: Link: Summary: Click button to copy above text for pasting into your site:

Cite this article in your essay, paper, or report:

close

APA style:

MLA style:

Click button to copy above text for pasting into your document:

Email this page's link to a friend or colleague:

close

To Email: Your Name: Your Email: cc to self

GIF89a

Sign In

Probiotics cuts Respiratory Illness Rates in Endurance Athletes

Recommended Posts

Guest guest

Link to comment

Share on other sites

Join the conversation

Activity