OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the ability of a probiotic Lactobacillus fermentum VRI-003 (PCC) to enhance the mucosal immune system of elite athletes. DESIGN AND SETTING: A double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover trial was conducted over a 4-month period of winter training. PARTICIPANTS; 20 healthy elite male distance runners. INTERVENTIONS:PCC was given at a daily dose of 1.26 x 10(10) as a freeze-dried powder in gelatin capsules. Placebo capsules contained an inert excipient. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Treadmill performance (monthly), mucosal and systemic immunity (monthly), training (daily) and illness (daily) were assessed. Serum cytokine levels, salivary IgA levels and incidence, duration and severity of respiratory tract infections were measured. RESULTS: Subjects reported less than half the number of days of respiratory symptoms during PCC treatment (30 days) compared with placebo (72 days, p<0.001). Illness severity was also lower for episodes occurring during the PCC treatment (p = 0.06). There were no significant differences in the mean change in salivary IgA and IgA1 levels, or in interleukin (IL)4 and IL12 levels, between treatments. However, PCC treatment elicited a twofold (p = 0.07) greater change in whole-blood culture interferon gamma (IFNgamma) compared with placebo. No substantial changes in running performance measures were seen over the study period. CONCLUSIONS: Prophylactic administration of PCC was associated with a substantial reduction in the number of days and severity of respiratory illness in a cohort of highly trained distance runners. Maintenance of IFNgamma levels may be one mechanism underpinning the positive clinical outcomes.
RCT Entities:
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the ability of a probiotic Lactobacillus fermentum VRI-003 (PCC) to enhance the mucosal immune system of elite athletes. DESIGN AND SETTING: A double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover trial was conducted over a 4-month period of winter training. PARTICIPANTS; 20 healthy elite male distance runners. INTERVENTIONS:PCC was given at a daily dose of 1.26 x 10(10) as a freeze-dried powder in gelatin capsules. Placebo capsules contained an inert excipient. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Treadmill performance (monthly), mucosal and systemic immunity (monthly), training (daily) and illness (daily) were assessed. Serum cytokine levels, salivary IgA levels and incidence, duration and severity of respiratory tract infections were measured. RESULTS: Subjects reported less than half the number of days of respiratory symptoms during PCC treatment (30 days) compared with placebo (72 days, p<0.001). Illness severity was also lower for episodes occurring during the PCC treatment (p = 0.06). There were no significant differences in the mean change in salivary IgA and IgA1 levels, or in interleukin (IL)4 and IL12 levels, between treatments. However, PCC treatment elicited a twofold (p = 0.07) greater change in whole-blood culture interferon gamma (IFNgamma) compared with placebo. No substantial changes in running performance measures were seen over the study period. CONCLUSIONS: Prophylactic administration of PCC was associated with a substantial reduction in the number of days and severity of respiratory illness in a cohort of highly trained distance runners. Maintenance of IFNgamma levels may be one mechanism underpinning the positive clinical outcomes.
Authors: Cecilia M Shing; Jonathan M Peake; Chin Leong Lim; David Briskey; Neil P Walsh; Matthew B Fortes; Kiran D K Ahuja; Luis Vitetta Journal: Eur J Appl Physiol Date: 2013-10-23 Impact factor: 3.078
Authors: Chad M Kerksick; Colin D Wilborn; Michael D Roberts; Abbie Smith-Ryan; Susan M Kleiner; Ralf Jäger; Rick Collins; Mathew Cooke; Jaci N Davis; Elfego Galvan; Mike Greenwood; Lonnie M Lowery; Robert Wildman; Jose Antonio; Richard B Kreider Journal: J Int Soc Sports Nutr Date: 2018-08-01 Impact factor: 5.150
Authors: Ralf Jäger; Alex E Mohr; Katie C Carpenter; Chad M Kerksick; Martin Purpura; Adel Moussa; Jeremy R Townsend; Manfred Lamprecht; Nicholas P West; Katherine Black; Michael Gleeson; David B Pyne; Shawn D Wells; Shawn M Arent; Abbie E Smith-Ryan; Richard B Kreider; Bill I Campbell; Laurent Bannock; Jonathan Scheiman; Craig J Wissent; Marco Pane; Douglas S Kalman; Jamie N Pugh; Jessica A Ter Haar; Jose Antonio Journal: J Int Soc Sports Nutr Date: 2019-12-21 Impact factor: 5.150