A new clinical study indicates that Wellmune WGP, from Biothera, may enable both recreational and elite athletes to exercise longer and harder with less risk of immune system suppression that normally occurs following high intensity exercise. Results were presented at the International Society of Exercise Immunology.

The randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study involved 60 recreational athletes [31 women (age 22 +5), 29 men (age 23 +5)] engaged in sustained aerobic exercise. Following initial screening, study subjects were given either a placebo or 250 mg of Wellmune WGP daily for 10 days.

At the end of the period, the athletes rode an exercise bicycle for approximately one hour in the heat stress chamber at the Health and Human Performance lab at the University of Houston. Exercise conditions in the chamber were set at 38C (100F) and 45% relative humidity to create an environment that placed the athletes under physiological and psychological stress. The athletes were closely monitored during the exercise challenge to ensure their safety. Blood samples were drawn at day 0 and immediately before and after the exercise session and again two hours post exercise. The samples were analyzed for 25 immune system measurements.

Using a cross-over study design, the athletes next observed an eight-day “wash out” period during which no supplement was given to clear their bodies of any supplement effect. The study subjects then repeated the 10-day supplementation with the other test variable (Wellmune or placebo). At the end of the second supplementation period, the subjects then replicated their initial exercise regimen.

Subjects taking Wellmune WGP had statistically significant higher concentrations of monocytes in their blood compared with the blood samples while taking the placebo. The higher monocyte level was recorded immediately before and after exercise, as well as two hours post exercise.

Study participants also had higher levels of key cytokines (IL-2, IL-4, IL-5 and IFN gamma) following Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) stimulation when taking Wellmune WGP. LPS is derived from gram-negative bacteria and used to mimic a foreign challenge to stimulate an immune response. Data also showed higher levels of plasma cytokines (IL-4, IL-5, IL-7, IL-8, IL-10 and IFN gamma) two hours after exercise when the subjects had supplemented with Wellmune. For further information: www.wellmune.com