Upper respiratory tract infections (common cold) infections are a
reason many athletes miss training in Canberra during the winter season. The
Department of Physiology is undertaking a study to examine whether probiotics
reduce colds and GI illness over the 6 months of winter and spring. The study
involves taking a probiotic supplement provided by the AIS daily from May to
September 2010 and filling in an online daily physical activity and illness log.
The log takes about 2 minutes per day to fill out. The study is designed to be as
minimally time consuming as possible and only require participants to be able to
log in to a computer.
Probiotic supplements, termed good bacteria, are being marketed as a way to boost
your immune system and reduce the risk of contracting infection.
While evidence for the use of probiotic supplements in specific sub-groups of the
population is increasing, there is little evidence of efficacy in physically
active, healthy individuals.
If you are between 18 to 60 years of age, healthy and undertaking a minimum 2 to
3 exercise sessions a week, we are looking for you.
There are a number of benefits of participating, including:

# That the supplement may reduce the risk of illness this winter;
# The AIS is running free lectures on nutrition and training program design and

# The supplement is free.

The only restriction is that a number of brands of commercial yoghurt cannot
be eating during the study. More information can be found here. Or you can contact Nicholas West at the AIS at clinicaltrialais@ausport.gov.au for more information.