Comparison of the Effects of Prebiotics and Synbiotics Supplementation on the Immune Function of Male University Football Players

Nutrients · 6 authors, 3 centres

AI SUMMARY

FIDELITY 100%

POPULATION30 male university football players from Beijing Sport University (mean training >11 h/week; 86.7% first-class players; age and BMI not significantly different between groups)

INTERVENTIONSynbiotic supplement (2 g/day containing GOS, FOS, inulin, PDX, strawberry powder, maltitol, plus ≥8×10⁹ CFU Lactobacillus casei Zhang, Bifidobacterium lactis V9, and ≥6×10⁹ CFU Lactobacillus plantarum P-8) for six weeks

COMPARISONPrebiotic supplement (2 g/day containing GOS, FOS, inulin, PDX, strawberry powder, and maltitol only) for six weeks

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TL;DR

This randomized trial compared six weeks of prebiotic versus synbiotic supplementation in 30 male university football players undergoing high-intensity training. Synbiotic supplementation significantly reduced upper respiratory tract infection (URTI) incidence and duration, increased salivary SIgA levels, and improved lactate elimination rate compared to prebiotics alone. These findings suggest synbiotics may offer superior immune and performance benefits for athletes under heavy training loads.

Full summary

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**Background:** Exercise-induced immunosuppression is common among elite athletes after intensive training, increasing the risk of opportunistic infections, particularly upper respiratory tract infections (URTI). Secretory immunoglobulin A (SIgA) levels can decrease by up to 74.5% after heavy exercise and are inversely correlated with URTI risk. Prebiotics and synbiotics have shown promise in supporting immune function, but their comparative effects in football players during high-intensity training and strenuous exercise were poorly understood. This study aimed to compare the effects of six-week prebiotic versus synbiotic supplementation on URTI symptoms, inflammatory markers, mucosal immunity, and aerobic fitness in male university football players.

**Methods:** Thirty male university student-athletes from Beijing Sport University (mean football experience 9.87±0.58 years; 86.7% first-class players) were randomly assigned to a prebiotic group (PG, n=15) or synbiotic group (SG, n=15). Both supplements (2 g/day powder) were identical in packaging, color, and smell. The prebiotic contained galactooligosaccharides (GOS), fructooligosaccharides (FOS), inulin, polydextrose (PDX), strawberry powder, and maltitol. The synbiotic contained the same ingredients plus ≥8×10⁹ CFU of Lactobacillus casei Zhang, Bifidobacterium lactis V9, and ≥6×10⁹ CFU of Lactobacillus plantarum P-8. Supplements were taken once daily after lunch for six weeks. Participants maintained their normal diet and training schedule (>11 h/week). URTI symptoms were recorded daily via questionnaire. Saliva samples were collected before and after the intervention for SIgA, β-defensin (β-DF), α-amylase (AMS), and lysozyme (LZM) measurement. Venous blood was collected at baseline and immediately after a constant load exercise test (75% VO2max until exhaustion) for inflammatory cytokines (IL-1β, IL-4, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, TGF-β1, IgA) and blood cell counts (WBC, RBC, Hb, HCT, MCH, MCHC). Aerobic capacity was assessed via VO2max test (Bruce protocol), maximal heart rate (HRmax), and lactic acid elimination rate (ER) from fingertip blood samples collected immediately, 1, 3, 5, and 10 minutes post-exercise. Statistical analysis used independent t-tests and repeated-measures ANOVA with SPSS 25; significance set at p<0.05.

**Key Results:** URTI incidence was significantly lower in the SG group (17.78±4.10% of symptomatic subjects) versus the PG group (31.11±3.30%, p<0.05). Total URTI symptom occurrences were markedly lower in SG (6.50±2.00 times/week) compared to PG (14.17±1.14 times/week, p<0.01). URTI duration was shorter in SG (1.77±0.19 days/time) than PG (2.66±0.28 days/time, p<0.05). Salivary SIgA increased significantly by 15.82% in the SG group (from 7.63±0.29 to 8.72±0.34 pg/mL, p<0.01) and was significantly higher than PG at final test (p<0.05). No significant changes were observed in β-DF, AMS, or LZM. At baseline, IL-1β increased significantly in SG (from 11.59±0.79 to 14.22±0.81 pg/mL, p<0.01) and by 13.61% in PG (p<0.05). IL-4 decreased significantly in PG (from 5.70±0.51 to 4.66±0.45 pg/mL, p<0.01). IL-6 increased by 31.87% in PG (p<0.05). Immediately after the constant load test, IL-1β decreased from 17.49±1.63 to 7.99±3.01 pg/mL in PG (p<0.01) and by 67.74% in SG (p<0.01). IL-4 decreased by 30.64% in PG (p<0.05) and from 6.82±0.77 to 3.28±1.27 pg/mL in SG (p<0.01). IL-10 decreased by 57.93% in SG and from 147.56±14.23 to 64.65±24.91 pg/mL in PG (both p<0.01). TGF-β1 decreased by 53.56% in PG and 74.12% in SG (both p<0.01). Blood cell counts showed significant time effects for RBC (p=0.009, η²=0.320), Hb (p=0.001, η²=0.460), HCT (p=0.011, η²=0.306), MCH (p<0.001, η²=0.602), and MCHC (p<0.001, η²=0.708), with significant time×group interactions for RBC (p=0.001, η²=0.446), Hb (p=0.001, η²=0.448), and HCT (p=0.001, η²=0.453). VO2max did not change significantly in either group. HRmax during constant load exercise decreased significantly in SG (from 174.10±3.35 to 168.88±4.70 bpm, p<0.05). Lactic acid ER increased by 193.78% in SG (from 0.33±0.06% to 0.76±0.13%, p<0.01) but not in PG.

**Clinical Implications:** This study provides evidence that six weeks of synbiotic supplementation is superior to prebiotic supplementation alone in reducing URTI incidence and duration, enhancing mucosal immunity (SIgA), and improving lactate metabolism and heart rate efficiency in male university football players undergoing high-intensity training. The synbiotic group showed a shift toward a more pro-inflammatory cytokine profile at rest (increased IL-1β) and reduced anti-inflammatory cytokines (IL-4, IL-10, TGF-β1) after strenuous exercise, suggesting improved immune regulation. The 193.78% increase in lactic acid elimination rate and reduced HRmax in the synbiotic group indicate potential performance benefits. These findings support the use of synbiotics as a nutritional strategy for athletes to maintain immune function and possibly enhance recovery during heavy training periods. However, the absence of a true placebo control group limits the ability to attribute effects solely to the synbiotic versus prebiotic comparison. Future studies should include a placebo group and investigate the underlying mechanisms linking gut microbiota modulation to immune and metabolic outcomes.

PICO

PPOPULATION

30 male university football players from Beijing Sport University (mean training >11 h/week; 86.7% first-class players; age and BMI not significantly different between groups)

IINTERVENTION

Synbiotic supplement (2 g/day containing GOS, FOS, inulin, PDX, strawberry powder, maltitol, plus ≥8×10⁹ CFU Lactobacillus casei Zhang, Bifidobacterium lactis V9, and ≥6×10⁹ CFU Lactobacillus plantarum P-8) for six weeks

OOUTCOME

URTI incidence and duration; salivary SIgA, β-DF, AMS, LZM; serum IL-1β, IL-4, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, TGF-β1, IgA; blood cell counts (WBC, RBC, Hb, HCT, MCH, MCHC); VO2max, HRmax, lactic acid elimination rate

STUDY TYPE

RCT

SPECIALTY

sports medicine

SUMMARISED BY

AI pipeline

FIDELITY CHECK

100% · A

ORIGINAL PAPER

PMC10004888

Comparison of the Effects of Prebiotics and Synbiotics Supplementation on the Immune Function of Male University Football Players

Nutrients

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ABSTRACT

This study was conducted to compare the effects of long-term prebiotic and synbiotic supplementations on the immunosuppression of male football players after daily high-intensity training and a one-time strenuous exercise. A total of 30 male university student-athletes were recruited and randomly assigned to the prebiotic (PG, n = 15) or synbiotic group (SG, n = 15), receiving a prebiotic or synbiotic once per day for six weeks. Physiological assessments were conducted by a maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max) test and an exhaustive constant load exercise (75% VO2max test). Inflammatory cytokine and secretory immunoglobulin A (SIgA) were measured. VO2max, maximal heart rate (HRmax), and lactic acid elimination rate (ER) were used to evaluate aerobic capacity. Upper respiratory tract infection (URTI) complaints were evaluated using a questionnaire. URTI incidence and duration were significantly lower in the SG group than that in the PG group ( p < 0.05). At baseline, SIgA and interleukin-1β (IL-1β) levels in the SG group ( p < 0.01) as well as IL-1β and IL-6 in the PG group ( p < 0.05) were significantly increased, and IL-4 concentration was markedly reduced in the PG group ( p < 0.01). The concentrations of IL-4, IL-10 and transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) were significantly reduced in the PG and SG group immediately after the constant load exercise. Significantly decreased HRmax and enhanced ER (increased by 193.78%) were detected in the SG group, not in the PG group, during the constant load experiment ( p < 0.05) and the recovery period ( p < 0.01), respectively. However, VO2max value was not changed. These data suggest that synbiotic supplementation for six weeks has a more positive effect than prebiotics on the immune function and athletic performance of male university football players.

CITATION EXPORT

Lufang Zhang, Hui Xiao, Li Zhao et al.. Comparison of the Effects of Prebiotics and Synbiotics Supplementation on the Immune Function of Male University Football Players. Nutrients. (2023). https://doi.org/10.3390/nu15051158

AUTHORS

6 · 3 CENTRES

Lufang Zhang, Hui Xiao, Li Zhao, Zeting Liu, Lanmu Chen, Chenzhe Liu

1Department of Exercise Physiology, School of Sport Science, Beijing Sport University, Beijing 100084, China
2School of China Football Sports, Beijing Sport University, Beijing 100084, China
3Department of Mathematic Science, School of Sport Engineering, Beijing Sport University, Beijing 100084, China

EDITOR / REVIEWER

Louise Deldicque