Clinical study reveals impact of Clasado Bioscience’s prebiotic supplements on elite athletes

10 Nov 2023 --- Clasado Biosciences and Dr. Neil Williams — senior lecturer in exercise physiology and nutrition at Nottingham Trent University, UK — are set to present the results of a collaborative clinical study on the effects of prebiotic supplementation on gastrointestinal and immune function in elite athletes.

The research found that elite rugby union players undergo significant physical and mental stress, which makes them more susceptible to upper respiratory and gastrointestinal illnesses. Published in the European Journal of Sport Science, sheds light on the potential role of prebiotics in sports nutrition and paving the way for innovative developments in gut microbiome-centered products.

The findings will be discussed by Williams at the 10th Beneficial Microbes Conference in Amsterdam, the Netherlands.  

“I look forward to presenting the findings of our new study and advancing our understanding of how the gut microbiome can influence athletic health. Our study sheds considerable light on the intersection of microbiome science and sports nutrition, emphasizing the transformative potential of prebiotics in optimizing athlete health,” says Williams. 

Respiratory and gastrointestinal symptoms  
The 33 elite rugby players who participated in the study were randomly assigned to either a prebiotic group (2.8 g/day galactooligosaccharide) or a placebo group (2.8 g/day maltodextrin) for 168 days under double-blind conditions. Participants recorded daily upper respiratory symptoms and weekly gastrointestinal symptoms. Bimuno GOS has been shown to reduce respiratory and gastrointestinal symptoms.Bimuno GOS has been shown to reduce respiratory and gastrointestinal symptoms.Bimuno GOS has been shown to reduce respiratory and gastrointestinal symptoms.resrr“At all levels of athletics, from leisure exercise to grassroots and top-flight athletics, training or events missed through illness can be a significant challenge to overcome,” explains Dr. Georgina Dodd, senior scientist at Clasado Biosciences. 

The study found a 24% reduction in the duration of respiratory illness and lower incidence and severity of gastrointestinal symptoms in athletes who consumed Bimuno galactooligosaccharide (GOS) compared to the placebo group.

“The new study led by Dr. Williams shows significant potential for prebiotics in sports nutrition by supporting immune function and gastrointestinal health, and is another step forward in understanding how a better-supported gut environment can influence many different aspects of our day-to-day lives,” Dodd adds.

Clasado Biosciences, targeted at elite athletes and focused on gut and immune health, was recently given seven self-substantiated food-health claims with Food Standards Australia and New Zealand for its prebiotic GOS ingredient, Bimuno GOS.

By Milana Nikolova