Keywords: INFECTIONS, ATHLETES, IMMUNE FUNCTION – Probiotics
Reference: “Probiotic supplementation reduces the duration and incidence of infections but not severity in elite rugby union players,” Haywood BA, Black KE, et al, J Sci Sport, 2013 Aug 30; [Epub ahead of print]. (Address: Department of Human Nutrition, University of Otago, New Zealand).
Summary: In a randomized, placebo-controlled trial involving 30 elite rugby players, daily supplementation with probiotics for a period of 4 weeks was found to be associated with reduction in incidence of infections, while severity of symptoms while sick did not differ between the groups. Specifically, while receiving probiotics, 14 of the 30 subjects never experienced even a single upper respiratory tract infection or gastrointestinal episode, as compared to 6 of the 30 subjects while receiving a placebo. The mean number of days of illness was higher in the placebo group (5.8 days) as compared to the probiotic group (3.4 days). No significant difference in severity of symptoms when they arose was found between the groups. The authors conclude, “These positive effects of probiotic supplements provide evidence for the beneficial effects of daily supplementation with these probiotic strains in highly trained rugby union players.”