Effects of Probiotics and Nutritional Status on Exercise-Induced Symptoms, and Endurance Performance in Ultra-Endurance Athletes

Istanbul Medeniyet University24 enrolled

Overview

Ultra-endurance athletes have been commonly endured extreme conditions during races and training sessions, resulting in exercise-associated clinical symptoms, including gastrointestinal symptoms, dehydration, and elevated oxidative stress. Although these alterations adversely affect sports performance and well-being, there is no certain treatment or consensus on alleviating the exercise-associated clinical symptoms in ultra-endurance athletes. The objective of this study is to determine the effects of oral rehydration salts supplemented with Lactobacillus Rhamnosus GG on exercise-induced gastrointestinal problems, dehydration and oxidative stress in ultra-endurance athletes. Additionally, we aimed to assess the exercise-induced alterations in oxidative stress determined by applying an acute strenuous exercise protocol ((a cycle ergometer (45 min at 65%VO2max) immediately followed by a treadmill test (75% VO2max to exhaustion)) before and after the supplementation period.

Study Type

INTERVENTIONAL

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

TRIPLE

Enrollment

Conditions

Ultra-endurance Athletes With Gastrointestinal Symptoms

Interventions

Eligibility

Sex: ALLMin age: 20 YearsMax age: 64 Years

Medical Language ↔ Plain English

Inclusion Criteria: * Participants who train at least 15 h per week, * Participants who do not have any metabolic disease, * Have had at least one gastrointestinal symptom determined by using a Gastrointestinal Symptoms Rating Scale and Bristol Stool Chart Form Scale, * Being a non-smoker, * Have participated in at least one ultra-endurance race/event (lasts \> 4 hr), * Taking no vitamins, minerals, dietary supplements, antibiotics, and any medication at least during the three months before the study, * (For women) participants with a regular menstrual cycle of physiological length (24-35 days) Exclusion Criteria: * Regular tobacco use * Inability to adhere to any of the study protocol requirements (i.e. alcohol, caffeine consumption, diet control) * Having consumed any supplements and/or medicines for the preceding 3 months period. * (For women) participants in menopause or using oral contraceptives

Outcomes

Primary Outcomes

Changes of the gut microbiome after a 4-week supplementation period

\- To assess the profile of gut flora (% abundance of various bacterial phyla, families, genera and species) at baseline and after supplementation in ultra-endurance athletes, using a 16S ribosomal RNA sequencing

Time frame: Change from Baseline Gut Microbiome at 4 weeks

Secondary Outcomes

Changes in blood markers of exercise-associated oxidative stress (8-isoprostaglandin 2Fa, Total Antioxidant Capacity, and Total Oxidant Capacity in plasma)

\- Blood samples were collected pre-and post-exercise applied before and after supplementation to evaluate the change in exercise-induced oxidative stress in plasma. Plasma concentrations of 8-isoprostaglandin 2Fa, Total Antioxidant Capacity, and Total Oxidant Capacity were analysed using ELISA kits.

Time frame: 4 weeks