Nutrition and Athlete Immune Health

Welcome to the latest edition of the Fueling Greatness Newsletter. Each week, I aim to decode the “science to application” of nutrition and related fields to help you optimise your performance, body composition and well-being. Be at the cutting edge of this knowledge, and subscribe to my newsletter.

Introduction:

Welcome to this week’s newsletter, in which I explore a new paradigm for exercise immunology based on my We Do Science Podcast interview with Professor Neil Walsh and his published research that considers the beneficial “tolerogenic” interactions between pathogens and the immune system. I will also discuss the prominent infection risk factors for athletes and how targeted tolerogenic nutritional supplements can reduce the burden of infection in elite athletes.

Infection Burden in Athletes

Recent advancements in our understanding of the infection burden in athletes have revealed that upper respiratory infections (URIs) pose a serious problem for athletes. Studies have shown that military recruits who report sleeping less than 6 hours per night have an increased risk of URIs. The Injury/Illness Performance Project (IIPP) has provided a novel epidemiological approach for recording the consequences of sports injuries and illnesses. These findings highlight the need for athletes to prioritise their immune health to prevent sickness-related absences from training and events.

Athletes are at a higher risk of infection due to the physical and psychological stressors associated with training and competition. These stressors can lead to a decrease in immune function, making athletes more susceptible to infections. Furthermore, athletes who travel frequently for competitions are at an increased risk of infection due to exposure to new pathogens and changes in climate and environment. Therefore, athletes must optimise their immune health to reduce the risk of infection.

Resistance vs. Tolerance

The long-standing view held by many that nutritional supplements should be targeted toward countering the weakened immune weaponry (termed resistance) in otherwise healthy elite athletes is overly simplistic. Instead, a new paradigm for exercise immunology considers the beneficial tolerogenic interactions between pathogens and the immune system. Tolerance refers to the ability to endure microbes, and looking through this new lens provides a much clearer picture concerning the somewhat conflicting and often disappointing findings of studies investigating nutritional supplements and athlete immune health.

Resistance and tolerance are two different approaches to immune health. Resistance refers to the ability to destroy microbes, while tolerance refers to the ability to dampen an immune response and control infection at a non-damaging level. Studies investigating nutritional supplements that improve immune resistance in athletes show limited benefits, as evidence supporting immune suppression in athletes still needs to be provided. Therefore, the focus should be on nutritional supplements with beneficial tolerogenic properties that reduce the infection burden in otherwise healthy athletes, including probiotics, prebiotics, and specific vitamins and minerals.

Targeted Tolerogenic Nutritional Supplements

The new theoretical perspective of targeted tolerogenic nutritional supplements provides a framework for research to reduce the burden of infection in elite athletes. For example, a research study has found that fasting metabolism has opposing effects on tissue tolerance in bacterial and viral inflammation. Additionally, protein and calorie intake have been shown to play a role in immune defences. These findings suggest that targeted nutritional supplements can help enhance tolerance and reduce the risk of infection in athletes.

Probiotics and prebiotics are two types of nutritional supplements that have been shown to have beneficial tolerogenic effects on the immune system. Probiotics are live microorganisms that confer health benefits to the host when consumed in adequate amounts. Studies have shown that probiotics can reduce the incidence and duration of URIs in athletes. Prebiotics, however, are non-digestible food ingredients that stimulate the growth and activity of beneficial bacteria in the gut. Prebiotics have been shown to enhance the immune response to infections and reduce the risk of gastrointestinal infections in athletes.

Certain vitamins and minerals have also been shown to have beneficial tolerogenic effects on the immune system. Vitamin D, for example, plays a crucial role in immune function and has been shown to reduce the incidence of URIs in athletes. Zinc is another mineral that plays a role in immune function and has been shown to reduce the duration and severity of URIs in athletes. Therefore, athletes should consider incorporating these vitamins and minerals into their diet to optimise their immune health.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the latest research on nutrition and athlete immune health highlights the need for a new paradigm for exercise immunology that considers the beneficial tolerogenic interactions between pathogens and the immune system. By prioritising immune health and incorporating targeted tolerogenic nutritional supplements, athletes can reduce the burden of infection and prevent sickness absence.

Take-Home Messages

1. Upper respiratory infections pose a serious problem for athletes, and prioritising immune health is crucial to prevent sickness absence.

2. Resistance and tolerance are two different approaches to immune health, and the new paradigm for exercise immunology emphasises the importance of tolerance in reducing the burden of infection in athletes.

3. Targeted tolerogenic nutritional supplements, such as probiotics, prebiotics, and specific vitamins and minerals, can be used to enhance tolerance and reduce the risk of infection in athletes

That’s it for today! I hope you found this of interest and value.

Have a great week, and see you next week for another edition of Fueling Greatness, in which we will continue to explore key topics in sport and exercise nutrition and unpack the “science-to-application” to help you achieve your performance, body composition and well-being goals.

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Have a great week!

Best regards,

Dr Laurent Bannock