The DOI matches its Crossref record; 44 of the 44 references it cites were found in a registry or an index.
The Effect of Probiotics on Respiratory Infections and Gastrointestinal Symptoms during Training in Marathon Runners
Abstract
Heavy exercise is associated with an increased risk of upper respiratory tract infections. Strenuous exercise also causes gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms. In previous studies probiotics have reduced respiratory tract infections and GI symptoms in general populations including children, adults, and the elderly. These questions have not been studied in athletes before. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of probiotics on the number of healthy days, respiratory infections, and GI-symptom episodes in marathon runners in the summer. Marathon runners ( N = 141) were recruited for a randomized, double-blind intervention study during which they received Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG (LGG) or placebo for a 3-mo training period. At the end of the training period the subjects took part in a marathon race, after which they were followed up for 2 wk. The mean number of healthy days was 79.0 in the LGG group and 73.4 in the placebo group ( P = 0.82). There were no differences in the number of respiratory infections or GI-symptom episodes. The duration of GI-symptom episodes in the LGG group was 2.9 vs. 4.3 d in the placebo group during the training period ( P = 0.35) and 1.0 vs. 2.3 d, respectively, during the 2 wk after the marathon ( P = 0.046). LGG had no effect on the incidence of respiratory infections or GI-symptom episodes in marathon runners, but it seemed to shorten the duration of GI-symptom episodes.
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“For example, a 12-week study on 141 non-elite marathon runners during pollen season supplementing daily with L. rhammnosus GG (LGG) did not find a significant effect on allergic markers [54] or on the incidence of UTRI episodes [55].”
From International Society of Sports Nutrition Position Stand: Probiotics (2019) · cites this paper as [55]
In the citing paper
“However, the duration of a GI symptom episode was 57% shorter in the probiotic group than in the placebo group.”
From International Society of Sports Nutrition Position Stand: Probiotics (2019) · cites this paper as [55]
In the citing paper
“In the first reported study investigating the effects of probiotics on GI health, Kekkonen et al. [55], reported no effect of L. rhamnosus GG on GI-symptom episodes in marathon runners after a three-month training period.”
From International Society of Sports Nutrition Position Stand: Probiotics (2019) · cites this paper as [55]
Citations
Cites
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Self-citationLactobacillusTherapy for Acute Infectious Diarrhea in Children: A Meta-analysis
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“Presumably, therefore, they would have been more likely to suffer from infections during the training period and after the marathon (15, 17, 19, 20, 26).”
BackgroundEfficacy of Lactobacillus GG in prevention of nosocomial diarrhea in infants
Szajewska, H., Kotowska, M., Mrukowicz, J. Z., Armańska, M., & Mikołajczyk, W. (2001) · The Journal of Pediatrics · doi:10.1067/mpd.2001.111321 · Cited by 409
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Cited by
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Encapsulation of probiotic living cells: From laboratory scale to industrial applications
Burgain, J., Gaïani, C., Linder, M., & Scher, J. (2011) · Journal of Food Engineering · doi:10.1016/j.jfoodeng.2010.12.031 · Cited by 894
Probiotics for preventing acute upper respiratory tract infections
Hao, Q., Dong, B. R., & Wu, T. (2015) · Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews · doi:10.1002/14651858.cd006895.pub3 · Cited by 569
Cresci, G., & Bawden, E. (2015) · Nutrition in Clinical Practice · doi:10.1177/0884533615609899 · Cited by 459
Thirty Years of Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG
Capurso, L. (2019) · Journal of Clinical Gastroenterology · doi:10.1097/mcg.0000000000001170 · Cited by 400
Endurance exercise and gut microbiota: A review
Mach, N., & Fuster-Botella, D. (2017) · Journal of Sport and Health Science · doi:10.1016/j.jshs.2016.05.001 · Cited by 361
Metadata
- Authors
- Kekkonen, R. A., Vasankari, T. J., Vuorimaa, T., Haahtela, T., Julkunen, I., & Korpela, R.
- Affiliations
- University of Helsinki (FI)
- Venue
- International Journal of Sport Nutrition and Exercise Metabolism
- Publisher
- Human Kinetics
- Published
- 2007-08
- Volume
- 17
- Issue
- 4
- Pages
- 352-363
- ISSN
- 1526-484X (ISSN-L)
- 1543-2742
- OpenAlex
- W2160362327
- Cited by
- 170
- References
- 44
- Citations by year
- 2026: 3 · 2025: 9 · 2024: 4 · 2023: 4 · 2022: 21 · 2021: 11 · 2020: 9 · 2019: 19 · 2018: 12 · 2017: 2 · 2016: 11 · 2015: 14 · 2014: 5 · 2013: 12 · 2012: 11
- FWCI
- 8.66
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- International Journal of Sport Nutrition and Exercise Metabolism (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- Valio
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Food Science › Probiotics and Fermented Foods
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Physiology (medical) › Exercise and Physiological Responses
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Gastroenterology › Gastrointestinal motility and disorders
- Keywords
- probiotics, Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG, marathon runners, upper respiratory tract infection, gastrointestinal symptoms, athletes, endurance training
- MeSH terms
- Adult, Aged, Double-Blind Method, Female, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, Physical Endurance, Respiratory Tract Infections, Risk Factors, Running, Treatment Outcome, Probiotics, Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus
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