scholarly journals Postrace upper respiratory tract ‘infections' in ultramarathoners — infection, allergy or inflammation?

2004 ◽  
Vol 16 (1) ◽  
pp. 3 ◽  
Author(s):  
EM Peters
Keyword(s):  
Respiratory Tract ◽  
Prolonged Exercise ◽  
Th2 Cells ◽  
Upper Respiratory Tract ◽  
Immune Functions ◽  
T Helper ◽  
Upper Respiratory ◽  
Exercise Induced ◽  
Cellular Immune

Despite more than 20 years of research into mechanisms which could result in the increased predisposition of athletes to ‘infection' incidence following excessive and prolonged exercise, definitive explanations are not yet available. A strong temporal relationship between the incidence of upper respiratory tract infection symptoms and immune system changes following excessive exercise load (EEL) have not been shown. T-helper cells are functionally polarised according to the cytokines which they produce. While exercise-induced upregulation of T-helper- 2 (TH2) cells and type 2 cytokines is indicative of enhanced activation of allergic responses, downregulation of T-helper-1 (TH1) cells and type 1 cytokines confirms suppression of cellular immune functions. The current knowledge regarding the exercise-induced kinetics of interleukin (IL)-4, a cytokine that is crucial in the activation of the TH2 cells, does, however, not appear to provide sufficient support for an upregulation of a type 2 response. Lowered or unchanged circulating concentrations of type1 cytokines (IL12, IL-2 and interferon γ) and short-term suppression of lymphocyte, natural killer cell and neutrophil function following EEL, reflect a transient, post-exercise suppression of cellular immunity. Despite a partial dampening thereof by the anti-inflammatory actions of IL-10, IL-1ra and IL-6, the evidence supporting a pro-inflammatory response to prolonged exercise and overtraining is unequivocal. At present, the data appear to support the theory that symptoms of ‘infection' experienced by athletes are the manifestation of a significant pro-inflammatory response, combined with a modest, transient suppression of cellular immune functions which may be clinically insignificant. South African Journal of Sports Medicine Vol.16(1) 2004: 3-9

scholarly journals Postrace upper respiratory tract ‘infections' in ultramarathoners — infection, allergy or inflammation?

2004 ◽  
Vol 16 (1) ◽  
pp. 3
Author(s):  
EM Peters
Keyword(s):  
Respiratory Tract ◽  
Prolonged Exercise ◽  
Th2 Cells ◽  
Upper Respiratory Tract ◽  
Immune Functions ◽  
T Helper ◽  
Upper Respiratory ◽  
Exercise Induced ◽  
Cellular Immune

Despite more than 20 years of research into mechanisms which could result in the increased predisposition of athletes to ‘infection' incidence following excessive and prolonged exercise, definitive explanations are not yet available. A strong temporal relationship between the incidence of upper respiratory tract infection symptoms and immune system changes following excessive exercise load (EEL) have not been shown. T-helper cells are functionally polarised according to the cytokines which they produce. While exercise-induced upregulation of T-helper- 2 (TH2) cells and type 2 cytokines is indicative of enhanced activation of allergic responses, downregulation of T-helper-1 (TH1) cells and type 1 cytokines confirms suppression of cellular immune functions. The current knowledge regarding the exercise-induced kinetics of interleukin (IL)-4, a cytokine that is crucial in the activation of the TH2 cells, does, however, not appear to provide sufficient support for an upregulation of a type 2 response. Lowered or unchanged circulating concentrations of type1 cytokines (IL12, IL-2 and interferon γ) and short-term suppression of lymphocyte, natural killer cell and neutrophil function following EEL, reflect a transient, post-exercise suppression of cellular immunity. Despite a partial dampening thereof by the anti-inflammatory actions of IL-10, IL-1ra and IL-6, the evidence supporting a pro-inflammatory response to prolonged exercise and overtraining is unequivocal. At present, the data appear to support the theory that symptoms of ‘infection' experienced by athletes are the manifestation of a significant pro-inflammatory response, combined with a modest, transient suppression of cellular immune functions which may be clinically insignificant. South African Journal of Sports Medicine Vol.16(1) 2004: 3-9

scholarly journals Oral intake of heat-killedLactobacillus plantarumL-137 decreases the incidence of upper respiratory tract infection in healthy subjects with high levels of psychological stress

2013 ◽  
Vol 2 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yoshitaka Hirose ◽  
Yoshihiro Yamamoto ◽  
Yasunobu Yoshikai ◽  
Shinji Murosaki
Keyword(s):  
Tract Infection ◽  
Respiratory Tract ◽  
Concanavalin A ◽  
Healthy Subjects ◽  
Human Subjects ◽  
Oral Intake ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Upper Respiratory Tract ◽  
Immune Functions ◽  
Upper Respiratory

AbstractThe immunomodulatory effects of live or non-viable lactic acid bacteria have been extensively investigated. We reported that oral intake of heat-killedLactobacillus plantarumL-137 (HK L-137) augmented innate and acquired immunity in mice and human subjects. To examine the effects of HK L-137 intake on upper respiratory tract infection (URTI) symptoms and immune functions in human subjects, a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel study was conducted in subjects with high psychological stress levels. A total of seventy-eight healthy subjects (thirty-three men and forty-five women; mean age 50·6 years) with scores of >41 on eighteen-item subscales of psychological distress in the Brief Job Stress Questionnaire were randomly assigned to receive a tablet containing HK L-137 (10 mg) or a placebo tablet daily for 12 weeks. The URTI symptoms were rated once daily on the validated twenty-one-item Wisconsin Upper Respiratory Symptom Survey-21. Immune functions, such as concanavalin A-induced proliferation and percentages of interferon (IFN)-γ- and IL-4-producing CD4 T cells of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC), and serum IFN-β concentrations were measured every 4 weeks. URTI incidence was significantly lower in the HK L-137 group than in the control group. URTI incidence, duration and severity, and duration of medication showed significant negative correlations with duration of HK L-137 intake. The percentage change from baseline of concanavalin A-induced proliferation of PBMC was significantly greater in the HK L-137 group than in the control group. These findings suggest that daily HK L-137 intake can decrease URTI incidence in healthy subjects, possibly through augmentation of immune functions.

Physical Activity, Exercise, and the Immune System: Three Lines of Research That Have Driven the Field

2015 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
pp. 118-125
Author(s):  
Jeffrey A. Woods ◽  
Brandt D. Pence
Keyword(s):  
Immune System ◽  
Immune Function ◽  
Acute Exercise ◽  
Prolonged Exercise ◽  
Moderate Intensity ◽  
Upper Respiratory Tract ◽  
Moderate Intensity Exercise ◽  
Exercise Immunology ◽  
Upper Respiratory ◽  
Exercise Induced

Exercise immunology is a relatively new discipline in the exercise sciences that seeks to understand how exercise affects the immune system and susceptibility to infectious and chronic diseases. This brief review will focus on three major observations that have driven the field to date including: (1) acute exercise-induced leukocytosis, (2) the observation that intense, prolonged exercise results in upper respiratory tract symptoms, and (3) the paradoxical effect of acute and chronic exercise on inflammation. This framework will be used to examine the mechanisms and implications behind these seminal observations. Data generally support the conclusion that moderate intensity exercise enhances immune function, whereas prolonged, intense exercise diminishes immune function.

Illnesses during 11 international athletics championships between 2009 and 2017: incidence, characteristics and sex-specific and discipline-specific differences

2019 ◽  
Vol 53 (18) ◽  
pp. 1174-1182 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pascal Edouard ◽  
Astrid Junge ◽  
Marine Sorg ◽  
Toomas Timpka ◽  
Pedro Branco
Keyword(s):  
Respiratory Tract ◽  
Female Athletes ◽  
Upper Respiratory Tract ◽  
National Medical ◽  
Relative Risks ◽  
Upper Respiratory ◽  
And Performance ◽  
Medical Teams ◽  
Exercise Induced ◽  
Tract Infections

BackgroundIllnesses impair athletes’ participation and performance. The epidemiology of illness in athletics is limited.ObjectiveTo describe the occurrence and characteristics of illnesses during international athletics championships (indoor and outdoor), and to analyse differences with regards to athletes’ sex and participation in explosive and endurance disciplines.MethodsDuring 11 international championships held between 2009 and 2017, physicians from both national medical teams and the local organising committees reported daily on all athlete illnesses using a standardised report form. Illness frequencies, incidence proportions (IPs) and rates (IRs), and relative risks (RR) with 95% CIs were calculated.ResultsDuring the 59 days of the 11 athletics championships, 546 illnesses were recorded in the 12 594 registered athletes equivalent to IP of 43.4 illnesses per 1000 registered athletes (95% CI 39.8 to 46.9) or IR of 1.2 per 1000 registered athlete days (95% CI 1.1 to 1.2). The most frequently reported illnesses were upper respiratory tract infections (18.7%), exercise-induced fatigue/hypotension/collapse (15.4%) and gastroenteritis (13.2%). No myocardial infarction was recorded. A total of 28.8% of illnesses were expected to lead to time loss from sport. The illness IP was similar in male and female athletes, with few differences in illness characteristics. During outdoor championships, the illness IP was higher in endurance than explosive disciplines (RR=1.87; 95% CI 1.58 to 2.23), with a considerably higher IP of exercise-induced illness in endurance disciplines, but a similar upper respiratory tract infection IP in both discipline groups.ConclusionsIllness prevention strategies during international athletics championships should be focused on the most frequent diagnoses in each discipline group.

scholarly journals Exercise-Induced Illness and Inflammation: Can Immunonutrition and Iron Help?

2019 ◽  
Vol 29 (2) ◽  
pp. 181-188 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lindy M. Castell ◽  
David C. Nieman ◽  
Stéphane Bermon ◽  
Peter Peeling
Keyword(s):  
Respiratory Tract ◽  
Strenuous Exercise ◽  
Cell Mediated Immunity ◽  
Upper Respiratory Tract ◽  
New Techniques ◽  
Gastrointestinal Problems ◽  
High Incidence ◽  
Respiratory Tract Illness ◽  
Upper Respiratory ◽  
Exercise Induced

The main focus of this review is illness among elite athletes, how and why it occurs, and whether any measures can be taken to combat it or to prevent its onset. In particular, there is particular interest in exercise-induced immunodepression, which is a result of the immune system regarding exercise (e.g., prolonged, exhaustive exercise) as a challenge to its function. This promotes the inflammatory response. There is often a high incidence of illness in athletes after undertaking strenuous exercise, particularly among those competing in endurance events, not only mainly in terms of upper respiratory tract illness, but also involving gastrointestinal problems. It may well be that this high incidence is largely due to insufficient recovery time being allowed after, for example, a marathon, a triathlon, or other endurance events. Two examples of the incidence of upper respiratory tract illness in moderate versus endurance exercise are provided. In recent years, increasing numbers of research studies have investigated the origins, symptoms, and incidence of these bouts of illness and have attempted to alleviate the symptoms with supplements, sports foods, or immunonutrition. One aspect of the present review discusses iron deficiency, which has been primarily suggested to have an impact upon cell-mediated immunity. Immunonutrition is also discussed, as are new techniques for investigating links between metabolism and immune function.

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