Effect of a Multi-Strain Probiotic Supplement on Gastrointestinal Symptoms and Serum Biochemical Parameters of Long-Distance Runners: A Randomized Controlled Trial

As many as 70% of athletes who practice endurance sports report experiencing gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms, such as abdominal pain, intestinal gurgling or splashing (borborygmus), diarrhea or the presence of blood in the stool, that occur during or after intense physical exercise. The aim of the study was to evaluate the effect of a multi-strain probiotic on the incidence of gastrointestinal symptoms and selected biochemical parameters in the serum of long-distance runners. After a 3-month intervention with a multi-strain probiotic, a high percentage of runners reported subjective improvement in their general health. Moreover, a lower incidence of constipation was observed. In the group of women using the probiotic, a statistically significant (p = 0.035) increase in serum HDL cholesterol concentration and a favorable lower concentration of LDL cholesterol and triglycerides were observed. These changes were not observed in the group of men using the probiotic. Probiotic therapy may reduce the incidence and severity of selected gastrointestinal symptoms in long-distance runners and improve subjectively assessed health condition

Wartość odżywcza diet eliminacyjnych stosowanych w leczeniu dzieci z alergią i nietolerancją pokarmową

Data of an evaluation of daily alimentary rations in 49 children, aged between 1 and 3 years, with food allergy and in children with both allergy and food intolerance, was compared with 25 healthy controls. Thai evaluation revealed too many restrictions in product selection for dietary consumption on one hand, without simultaneous correction of dietary levels of necessary elements on the other. The highest abnormalities in the consumption of nutrients were observed in the strictly limited diet of children with allergy and food intolerance, resulting from constant consideration of possible atopic symptoms, feared to occur, when the range of consumed products was in any way extended. The examined elimination diets have been poorly balanced, considering the energetic values, the contents of proteins, fat, carbohydrates, vitamins and microelements.Dokonano porównania pomiędzy racjami pokarmowymi spożywanymi przez 49 dzieci w wieku 1-3, cierpiące na alergię pokarmową oraz przez dzieci zarówno cierpiące na alergię, jak i nietolerancję pokarmową z 25 próbami kontrolnymi. Ocena wyników pozwoliła stwierdzić zbyt dużą ilość restrykcji w doborze produktów do konsumpcji oraz wskazała na problem braku jednoczesnej korekty poziomu niezbędnych pierwiastków w diecie. Najwyższe odchylenia od normy w konsumpcji składników odżywczych zaobserwowano w ściśle limitowanej diecie dzieci z alergią i nietolerancją pokarmową, co tłumaczyć można ciągłą obawą o możliwe wystąpienie atopowych objawów w konsekwencji spożycia jakichkolwiek produktów spoza dozwolonych w diecie. Badane diety eliminacyjne były źle zrównoważone w kwestii wartości energetycznej, zawartości białek, tłuszczów, węglowodanów, witamin i mikroelementów

Analysis of the Impact of a Multi-Strain Probiotic on Body Composition and Cardiorespiratory Fitness in Long-Distance Runners

Use of probiotic supplements, the benefits of which have not been proven in sportspeople, is becoming more widespread among runners. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of a multi-strain probiotic on body composition, cardiorespiratory fitness and inflammation in the body. The randomised, double-blind study included 66 long-distance runners. The intervention factor was a multi-strain probiotic or placebo. At the initial and final stages of the study, evaluation of body composition and cardiorespiratory fitness was performed and the presence of inflammation determined. In the group of men using the probiotic, an increase in lean body mass (p = 0.019) and skeletal muscle mass (p = 0.022) was demonstrated, while in the group of women taking the probiotic, a decrease in the content of total body fat (p = 0.600) and visceral fat (p = 0.247) was observed. Maximum oxygen consumption (VO2max) increased in women (p = 0.140) and men (p = 0.017) using the probiotic. Concentration of tumour necrosis factor-alpha decreased in women (p = 0.003) and men (p = 0.001) using the probiotic and in women (p = 0.074) and men (p = 0.016) using the placebo. Probiotic therapy had a positive effect on selected parameters of body composition and cardiorespiratory fitness of study participants and showed a tendency to reduce inflammation

Thoracic Hemisection in Rats Results in Initial Recovery Followed by a Late Decrement in Locomotor Movements, with Changes in Coordination Correlated with Serotonergic Innervation of the Ventral Horn

<div><p>Lateral thoracic hemisection of the rodent spinal cord is a popular model of spinal cord injury, in which the effects of various treatments, designed to encourage locomotor recovery, are tested. Nevertheless, there are still inconsistencies in the literature concerning the details of spontaneous locomotor recovery after such lesions, and there is a lack of data concerning the quality of locomotion over a long time span after the lesion. In this study, we aimed to address some of these issues. In our experiments, locomotor recovery was assessed using EMG and CatWalk recordings and analysis. Our results showed that after hemisection there was paralysis in both hindlimbs, followed by a substantial recovery of locomotor movements, but even at the peak of recovery, which occurred about 4 weeks after the lesion, some deficits of locomotion remained present. The parameters that were abnormal included abduction, interlimb coordination and speed of locomotion. Locomotor performance was stable for several weeks, but about 3–4 months after hemisection secondary locomotor impairment was observed with changes in parameters, such as speed of locomotion, interlimb coordination, base of hindlimb support, hindlimb abduction and relative foot print distance. Histological analysis of serotonergic innervation at the lumbar ventral horn below hemisection revealed a limited restoration of serotonergic fibers on the ipsilateral side of the spinal cord, while on the contralateral side of the spinal cord it returned to normal. In addition, the length of these fibers on both sides of the spinal cord correlated with inter- and intralimb coordination. In contrast to data reported in the literature, our results show there is not full locomotor recovery after spinal cord hemisection. Secondary deterioration of certain locomotor functions occurs with time in hemisected rats, and locomotor recovery appears partly associated with reinnervation of spinal circuitry by serotonergic fibers.</p></div

Immunolabeling of transverse spinal cord sections showing 5-HT-positive staining in intact rats and at different time points after hemisection.

<p>The representative images show the ventral horns below the lesion (L3-L5 level) in the ipsilateral (left) and contralateral (right) side to hemisection. (A) intact rat, (B) 1 week, (C) 2 weeks, (D) 3 months, (E) 6 months after the lesion. 1 and 3 –real images, 2 and 4 –images after skeletonization.</p

Comparison of EMG activity of the forelimb and hindlimb muscles.

<p>EMG activity during locomotion of a representative rat before (A), 7 days (B), 14 days (C) and 42 days (D) after spinal cord hemisection. Interlimb coordination (onset of EMG activity in the left TA (l TA) with respect to the contralateral right TA (r TA)) and intralimb coordination (onset of EMG activity in the left extensor (l Sol) with respect to the left TA (l TA)) for these time points are shown in the left and right polar plots, respectively. Zero corresponds to the onset of activity in the right TA muscle, and the positions of the filled black circles indicate the times of onset of activity in the left TA<i>—</i>interlimb coordination (left panel) or the onset of activity in the left Sol <i>-</i>intralimb coordination (right panel) in the relation to the onset of activity in the left TA muscle. The black lines each represent data from one animal, and the red line represents the global mean for the group. l Tri—left <i>Triceps</i>; l/r Sol—left and right <i>Soleus</i> and l/r TA—left and right <i>Tibialis Anterior</i>.</p

Serotonin fiber length.

<p>(A) Serotonin fiber length (in pixels) at the lumbar spinal cord level (below the area of hemisection) in the ipsi- and contralateral sides before and at consecutive time points after injury (mean±SEM). (B) Expanded scale of the diagram in (A) to show changes in serotonin fiber length (in pixels) in the lumbar spinal cord level (below the area of hemisection) in the ipsilateral side at consecutive time points after the injury (mean±SEM). Abbreviations: w—weeks post operation, m—months post operation. * − <i>p</i><0.05, ** − <i>p</i><0.01, *** − <i>p</i><0.001.</p

Changes in speed and spatial parameters induced by spinal cord hemisection.

<p>(A) Changes in the hindlimb base of support (BOS) before and at consecutive time points after hemisection (mean±SEM), (B) changes in hindlimb abduction (HA) before and at consecutive time points after hemisection (mean±SEM), (C) changes in the relative print distance (RPD) before and in the consecutive time points after spinal cord hemisection (mean±SEM), (D) changes in locomotor speed (V) before and at consecutive time points after hemisection (mean±SEM). Abbreviations: w—weeks post operation, m—months post operation, * − <i>p</i><0.05, ** − <i>p</i><0.01, *** − <i>p</i><0.001.</p