title: An Exploratory Investigation of Endotoxin Levels in Novice Long Distance Triathletes, and the Effects of a Multi-Strain Probiotic/Prebiotic, Antioxidant Intervention.
abstract: Gastrointestinal (GI) ischemia during exercise is associated with luminal permeability and increased systemic lipopolysaccharides (LPS). This study aimed to assess the impact of a multistrain pro/prebiotic/antioxidant intervention on endotoxin unit levels and GI permeability in recreational athletes. Thirty healthy participants (25 males, 5 females) were randomly assigned either a multistrain pro/prebiotic/antioxidant (LAB⁴ANTI; 30 billion CFU·day-1containing 10 billion CFU·day-1Lactobacillus acidophilusCUL-60 (NCIMB 30157), 10 billion CFU·day-1Lactobacillus acidophillusCUL-21 (NCIMB 30156), 9.5 billion CFU·day-1Bifidobacterium bifidumCUL-20 (NCIMB 30172) and 0.5 billion CFU·day-1Bifidobacterium animalissubspecieslactisCUL-34 (NCIMB 30153)/55.8 mg·day-1fructooligosaccharides/ 400 mg·day-1α-lipoic acid, 600 mg·day-1N-acetyl-carnitine); matched pro/prebiotic (LAB⁴) or placebo (PL) for 12 weeks preceding a long-distance triathlon. Plasma endotoxin units (viaLimulusamebocyte lysate chromogenic quantification) and GI permeability (via 5 h urinary lactulose (L): mannitol (M) recovery) were assessed at baseline, pre-race and six days post-race. Endotoxin unit levels were not significantly different between groups at baseline (LAB⁴ANTI: 8.20 ± 1.60 pg·mL-1; LAB⁴: 8.92 ± 1.20 pg·mL-1; PL: 9.72 ± 2.42 pg·mL-1). The use of a 12-week LAB⁴ANTIintervention significantly reduced endotoxin units both pre-race (4.37 ± 0.51 pg·mL-1) and six days post-race (5.18 ± 0.57 pg·mL-1;p= 0.03, ηp² = 0.35), but only six days post-race with LAB⁴ (5.01 ± 0.28 pg·mL-1;p= 0.01, ηp² = 0.43). In contrast, endotoxin units remained unchanged with PL. L:M significantly increased from 0.01 ± 0.01 at baseline to 0.06 ± 0.01 with PL only (p= 0.004, ηp² = 0.51). Mean race times (h:min:s) were not statistically different between groups despite faster times with both pro/prebiotoic groups (LAB⁴ANTI: 13:17:07 ± 0:34:48; LAB⁴: 12:47:13 ± 0:25:06; PL: 14:12:51 ± 0:29:54;p> 0.05). Combined multistrain pro/prebiotic use may reduce endotoxin unit levels, with LAB⁴ANTIpotentially conferring an additive effect via combined GI modulation and antioxidant protection.
authors.affiliation: Department of Life Sciences, Faculty of Science and Technology, Anglia Ruskin University, Cambridge Campus, Cambridge CB1 1PT, UK. justin.roberts@anglia.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Justin D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Roberts
authors.affiliation: Department of Life Sciences, Faculty of Science and Technology, Anglia Ruskin University, Cambridge Campus, Cambridge CB1 1PT, UK. craig.suckling@pgr.anglia.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Craig A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Suckling
authors.affiliation: Department of Life Sciences, Faculty of Science and Technology, Anglia Ruskin University, Cambridge Campus, Cambridge CB1 1PT, UK. georgia.peedle@student.anglia.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Georgia Y
authors.initials: GY
authors.lastname: Peedle
authors.affiliation: College Lane, School of Life and Medical Sciences, University of Hertfordshire, Hatfield, Hertfordshire AL10 9AB, UK. jamurphy123@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Joseph A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Murphy
authors.affiliation: Cardiff School of Sport, Cardiff Metropolitan University, Cyncoed Campus, Cyncoed Road, Cardiff CF23 6XD, UK. tdawkins@cardiffmet.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Tony G
authors.initials: TG
authors.lastname: Dawkins
authors.affiliation: College Lane, School of Life and Medical Sciences, University of Hertfordshire, Hatfield, Hertfordshire AL10 9AB, UK. m.g.roberts@herts.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Michael G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Roberts
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000328:Adult; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D018988:Bacterial Translocation / Q000187:drug effects; D001642:Bicycling; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D002214:Capsules; D002336:Carnosine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004338:Drug Combinations; D019446:Endotoxemia / Q000097:blood / Q000382:microbiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D004731:Endotoxins / Q000097:blood*; D004739:England; D005260:Female; D005767:Gastrointestinal Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000382:microbiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D000069196:Gastrointestinal Microbiome / Q000187:drug effects; D041981:Gastrointestinal Tract / Q000187:drug effects / Q000382:microbiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010807:Physical Endurance; D056692:Prebiotics / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D019936:Probiotics / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D012420:Running; D013550:Swimming; D008063:Thioctic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D015415:Biomarkers; D002214:Capsules; D004338:Drug Combinations; D004731:Endotoxins; D056692:Prebiotics; C033681:N-acetylcarnosine; D008063:Thioctic Acid; D002336:Carnosine
keywords: antioxidants; endotoxemia; prebiotics; probiotics; triathlon