Immune support after high exercise stress

As we previously discussed, being physically fit can reduce the incidence and severity of colds. However it is also well known that endurance athletes become susceptible to infections/ sickness due to the reduction in the activity of their immune system from the stress of this sort of exercise program. That is when you perform long, hard efforts repeatedly, your immune system is depressed. So if you are an endurance athlete, a marathoner, duathalon/ triathalon, participant, or a long distance cyclist then you might want to consider supplementation with colostrum, Vitamin C and/or glutamine.

Colostrum: Recent research has shown that supplementation with bovine source colostrum after intense endurance exercise will improve the immune system. Research published in the British Journal of Nutrition by Dr.’s Glen Davidson and Bethany Diment show that if you supplement with bovine source colostrum for a period of 4 weeks your immune system is fortified and responds better under these stressful situations.

Vitamin C: In other studies by Dr. Davidson, he and his team have shown that supplementation with Vitamin C (1500 mg) prior to endurance exercise will help reduce oxidative stress on immune cells. This may assist in maintaining the immune system activity. Further there is strong broad based evidence that the consumption of a carbohydrate beverage before, during and after a strenuous workout or event will support your immune system.

Glutamine: The Canadian Natural Products Directorate has a monograph on glutamine which supports its use as for immune system support.

So if you are into strenuous exercise and want to help your immune system be at its best, you may want to consider a multi-facet supplementation plan that includes colostrum as well as glutamine and Vitamin C. As well, remember to keep your carbohydrate levels up during your exercise session to further help your immune system.

Visit www.iwindirect.com for all of your colostrum, vitamin and glutamine needs.

Sources:

• Glen Davison and Bethany C. Diment (2010). Bovine colostrum supplementation attenuates the decrease of salivary lysozyme and enhances the recovery of neutrophil function after prolonged exercise. British Journal of Nutrition, 103, pp 1425-1432.
• Glen Davison and Michael Gleeson (2005). Infl uence of Acute Vitamin C and/or Carbohydrate Ingestion on Hormonal, Cytokine, and Immune Responses to Prolonged Exercise. International Journal of Sport Nutrition and Exercise Metabolism, 2005, 15, 465-479.
• Glen Davison and Michael Gleeson (2006). The effect of 2 weeks vitamin C supplementation on immunoendocrine responses to 2.5 h cycling exercise in man. Eur J Appl Physiol (2006) 97: 454–461.
• Glen Davison and Michael Gleeson (2007). The effects of acute vitamin C supplementation on cortisol, interleukin-6, and neutrophil responses to prolonged cycling exercise. European Journal of Sport Science, March 2007; 7(1): 15-25.
• Glen Davison Michael Gleeson and Shaun Phillips (2007). Antioxidant Supplementation and Immunoendocrine Responses to Prolonged Exercise. Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise: 39 (4) pp 645-652.