ORIGINAL ARTICLE

Reversal in fatigued athletes of a defect in interferon secretion after administration of Lactobacillus acidophilus

R L Clancy¹, M Gleeson², A Cox², R Callister¹, M Dorrington², C D’Este¹, G Pang¹, D Pyne³, P Fricker³ and A Henriksson⁴

¹ Department of Immunology and Microbiology, University of Newcastle, Newcastle, NSW, Australia
² Hunter Area Pathology Service, John Hunter Hospital, New Lambton, NSW, Australia
³ Australian Institute of Sport, Belconnen, ACT, Australia
⁴ University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia

Correspondence to:
Correspondence to:
Professor Clancy
Department of Immunology and Microbiology, University of Newcastle, NSW 2300, Australia; robert.clancy{at}newcastle.edu.au

Background: Fatigue and impaired performance in athletes is well recognised and has been loosely linked to "overtraining". Reduced concentration of IgA in the saliva and increased shedding of Epstein Barr virus (EBV) have been associated with intense training in elite athletes.

Objective: To determine whether athletes presenting with fatigue and impaired performance had an immune defect relevant to defective containment of EBV infection, and whether a probiotic preparation (Lactobacillus acidophilus) shown to enhance mucosal immunity in animal models could reverse any detected abnormality.

Results: The fatigued athletes had clinical characteristics consistent with re-activation of EBV infection and significantly (p = 0.02) less secretion of interferon (IFN) from blood CD4 positive T cells. After one month of daily capsules containing 2 x 10¹⁰ colony forming units of L acidophilus, secretion of IFN from T cells had increased significantly (p = 0.01) to levels found in healthy control athletes. A significant (p = 0.03) increase in salivary IFN concentrations in healthy control athletes after the one month course of L acidophilus demonstrated in man the capacity for this probiotic to enhance the mucosal IFN concentration.

Conclusion: This is the first evidence of a T cell defect in fatigued athletes, and of its reversal following probiotic therapy.

Abbreviations: EBV, Epstein Barr virus; IFN, interferon; IL, interleukin; PCR, polymerase chain reaction

Keywords: fatigue; overtraining; Epstein Barr virus re-activation; interferon deficiency; Lactobacillus acidophilus

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This article has been cited by other articles:

• Clancy, R. L., Pang, G. (2007). Probiotics - Industry Myth or a Practical Reality?. J. Am. Coll. Nutr. 26: 691S-694S [Abstract] [Full Text]