Are long distance athletes more prone to infections?

Oct 14, 2014

by 226ERS #FeedYourDreams

Dr. José Antonio Villegas, professor and sports medicine specialist, points out the keys in food for the prevention of diseases in long -distance athletes.

Long distance runners suffer frequently gastrointestinal disorders During the effort –Mareos, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea. This altered intestinal function is associated with increased intestinal permeability after efforts and competitions of Duration greater than two hours. The decrease in blood flow to the intestine and liver during exercise becomes 80% when the intensity is above 70% of the VO_2Max, which induces changes in the absorption of nutrients and in the motility and integrity of the mucous gastrointestinal tract, especially if the competition is carried out in an unfavorable thermal environment (dehydration). On the other hand, although a relationship between the immune state and the sport of high demand is accepted, particularly due to the finding of the increase in respiratory infections in athletes after strenuous efforts, the high -intensity exercise relationship against decrease in the immune state is only accepted at the empirical level (in animals it has also been proven at the experimental level). It is accepted, however, that Acute and chronic exercise alters the number and function of innate immune system cells -For example, neutrophils, monocytes and circulating NK cells-however, we do not know if the exercise alters the migration of innate immune cells and there is very little information about the effects of the exercise in the dendigetric cells (antigen presenting cells). (...) When the usual breakfast does not allow protein -rich foods and the commented nutrients, A good supplement It would be the one that had an isolate protein of whey (rich in leucin and arginine glutamine), pre and probiotics (inulin and acid-chatting bacteria), beta glucans, apigenin (flavonoids) and vitamin B6 (has a flattering action of the immune system recognized by EFSA).