Sheffield Hallam University
The goal of this randomised control trial is to measure the gut microbiome response to long-haul travel alongside the demands of pre-season amongst elite football players. The efficacy of a probiotic in modulating the gut microbiome to mitigate the detrimental impacts of long-haul travel as well as training in the heat will also be explored. The main questions this study aims to answer are: * How is the gut microbiome of the professional football player impacted by long-haul travel during the pre-season period? * How is immune function impacted by the demands of pre-season? * Can a probiotic dietary maintain gut microbial stability in response to long-haul travel? Researchers will compare the effects of the probiotic supplement with a placebo. Participants will be required to: * Provide a faecal sample at multiple points throughout the pre-season * Provide a saliva sample at multiple points throughout the season * Consume a daily supplement which will either be a placebo or probiotic capsule
Study Overview During the pre-season period it has become increasingly popular for professional football teams to travel to locations such as North America, Asia and Australia in attempts to maximise commercial revenue. The gut microbiome, the diverse bacterial community known to influence key physiological processes, has been shown to be negatively impacted by long-haul travel. As a result, elite athletes may benefit from dietary interventions to mitigate these negative impacts especially when considering the intense heat and physical demands of a pre-season camp conditions which have been sh…
Inclusion Criteria: * Male professional footballers who are involved in regular training during the pre-season period. * Generally healthy, with no acute or chronic illnesses that could interfere with the study intervention or outcomes. * Not currently consuming probiotics, prebiotics, or antibiotics within 4 weeks prior to enrolment. * Willing to refrain from starting any new dietary supplements or probiotics during the study period. * Able and willing to provide written informed consent. Exclusion Criteria: * History of gastrointestinal disorders (e.g., Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis…
Probiotic capsule administered orally once daily for 3 weeks
Placebo tablet, identical in appearance to probiotic, administered orally once daily for 3-4 weeks.