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Pleuran (β-glucan from Pleurotus ostreatus) supplementation, cellular immune response and respiratory tract infections in athletes

European Journal of Applied Physiology volume 111, pages 2033–2040 (2011)Cite this article

Abstract

Prolonged and exhausting physical activity causes numerous changes in immunity and sometimes transient increases the risk of upper respiratory tract infections (URTIs). Nutritional supplements as countermeasures to exercise-induced changes have increasingly been studied in the last decade. One of the most promising nutritional supplements is β-glucan, a well-known immunomodulator with positive effects on the function of immunocompetent cells. In this double blind, placebo-controlled study, we investigated the effect of pleuran, an insoluble β-(1,3/1,6) glucan from mushroom Pleurotus ostreatus, on selected cellular immune responses and incidence of URTI symptoms in athletes. Fifty athletes were randomized to pleuran or placebo group, taking pleuran (commercial name Imunoglukan®) or placebo supplements during 3 months. Venous whole blood was collected before and after 3 months of supplementation and additionally 3 months after supplementation period was completed. Incidence of URTI symptoms together with characterization of changes in phagocytosis and natural killer (NK) cell count was monitored during the study. We found that pleuran significantly reduced the incidence of URTI symptoms and increased the number of circulating NK cells. In addition, the phagocytosis process remained stable in pleuran group during the study in contrast to placebo group where significant reduction of phagocytosis was observed. These findings indicate that pleuran may serve as an effective nutritional supplement for athletes under heavy physical training. Additional research is needed to determine the mechanisms of pleuran function.

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Acknowledgments

We thank Prof. Miroslav Ferenčík (Faculty of Medicine, Comenius University, Bratislava, Slovakia) and Prof. Dušan Hamar (Faculty of Physical Education and Sports, Comenius University, Bratislava, Slovakia) for their valuable comments on the manuscript. This work was supported by Pleuran, s.r.o. (Bratislava, Slovakia).

Conflict of interest

Dr. Juraj Majtan has financial relationship with Pleuran, s.r.o. that sponsored the research. He has received sponsorship from Pleuran s.r.o. to attend scientific meetings.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Pneumo-Alergo Centrum, s.r.o., Uzbecka 16, 821 06, Bratislava, Slovakia

    Katarina Bergendiova

  2. Department of Clinical Immunology, Medirex a.s., Galvaniho 17/C, 821 04, Bratislava, Slovakia

    Elena Tibenska

  3. Institute of Zoology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Dubravska cesta 9, 845 06, Bratislava, Slovakia

    Juraj Majtan

  4. Department of Microbiology, Slovak Medical University, Limbova 14, 833 03, Bratislava, Slovakia

    Juraj Majtan

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  1. Katarina Bergendiova
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  2. Elena Tibenska
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  3. Juraj Majtan
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Correspondence to Juraj Majtan.

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Communicated by Susan A. Ward.

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Bergendiova, K., Tibenska, E. & Majtan, J. Pleuran (β-glucan from Pleurotus ostreatus) supplementation, cellular immune response and respiratory tract infections in athletes. Eur J Appl Physiol 111, 2033–2040 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-011-1837-z

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