Author(s): PARKER, C., JOHNSON, M., HUNTER, K., SHARPE, G., ABBOTT, S., WILLIAMS, N. , Institution: NOTTINGHAM TRENT UNIVERSITY, Country: UNITED KINGDOM, Abstract-ID: 1368

INTRODUCTION:
It is becomingly increasingly common for team-based athletes to perform in hot climates which may increase the likelihood of gastrointestinal and respiratory illness. Gut microbes have a substantial influence on systemic immune function and gastrointestinal health. Dietary prebiotic galactooligosaccharides are effective at altering the gut microbiome and have been shown to alleviate upper respiratory symptoms (URS) and gastrointestinal symptoms (GIS) in elite rugby union players during a competitive season (Parker et al., 2023). Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate whether a 6-week prebiotic intervention can protect gastrointestinal integrity, immunity, and reduce URS following football specific exercise in the heat.
METHODS:
Twenty-four male team sport athletes were randomised to receive 2.9 g/d of either Bimuno-galactooligosaccharide (B-GOS; n=12) or a maltodextrin placebo (PLA; n=12) for 6 weeks in a double-blind design. Pre- and post-intervention, each participant completed an experimental trial where they completed a simulated football match on a treadmill in 33oC. During each experimental trial, plasma intestinal fatty acid binding protein (I-FABP) was measured at baseline (B), half-time (HT), full-time (FT) and 60-min post full time (FT60). Salivary immunoglobulin A (sIgA) secretion rate was measured at B and FT, and GIS for each half were measured at HT and FT. Throughout the 6-week intervention, daily URS and weekly GIS were self-reported using questionnaires.
RESULTS:
The Δ I-FABP following exercise from V1 and V2 was lower in B-GOS than PLA (B-GOS: -358 ± 259 pg/mL; PLA: 218 ± 322 pg/mL; P < 0.001). A similar finding occurred for sIgA secretion rate (B-GOS: 30.11 ± 85.83 µg/min; PLA: -42.09 ± 64.25 µg/min; P = 0.040). During exercise, there was a greater V1-V2 reduction in the total GIS score in B-GOS than PLA (B-GOS: -16.7 ± 96.3 %; PLA: 13.3 ± 66.9 %; P = 0.021). There was no between-group difference in URS incidence, but the mean duration of episodes was shorter (B-GOS: 3.4 ± 5.1 days; PLA: 9.0 ± 5.9 days; P = 0.025) and the severity (B-GOS: 12 ± 16.5; PLA: 34.5 ± 22.5; P = 0.029) was lower in B-GOS than PLA.
CONCLUSION:
Six weeks of a prebiotic B-GOS intervention improved gut barrier resistance, GIS and maintained sIgA secretion rate in response to football specific activity in the heat. There was also a reduction in the duration and severity of URS. These findings suggest that B-GOS has the potential to protect gut barrier function and modulate immune function, which may reduce the burden of illness and improve an athlete’s availability to train and compete.
References
Parker, C., Hunter, K. A., Johnson, M. A., Sharpe, G. R., Gibson, G. R., Walton, G. E., & Williams, N. C. (2023). Effects of 24-week prebiotic intervention on self-reported upper respiratory symptoms, gastrointestinal symptoms, and markers of immunity in elite rugby union players. European Journal of Sport Science, 1-8.