Prolonged strenuous exercise may induce
inflammation, cause changes in gastrointestinal permeability, and lead to other unfavorable
biological changes and diseases. Nutritional approaches have been used to prevent exercise-induced inflammatory responses and
gastrointestinal disorders. Hyperimmunized milk, obtained by immunizing cows against specific
antigens, promotes the development of immunity against pathogens, promotes anti-inflammatory effects, and protects intestinal function. Immune
protein (
IMP) is a concentrated product of hyperimmunized milk and is a more promising means of supplementation to protect against acute
infections and
inflammation. To determine whether
IMP has protective properties against exercise-induced gastrointestinal dysfunction and
inflammation, we examined
biochemical markers, intestinal damage markers, and pro-/anti-inflammatory profiles of young male runners using a randomized, placebo controlled, cross-over design. Urine samples were collected and used for measurements of
creatinine, N-acetyl-β-d-
glucosaminidase, osmotic pressure, and specific gravity.
Titin was measured as a muscle damage marker. Further, urine concentrations of
complement 5a,
calprotectin,
fractalkine,
myeloperoxidase,
macrophage colony-stimulating factor,
monocyte chemotactic protein-1,
intestinal fatty acid binding protein (I-FABP),
interferon (IFN)-γ,
interleukin (IL)-1β,
IL-1 receptor antagonist,
IL-2,
IL-4,
IL-6,
IL-8,
IL-10,
IL-12p40, and
tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α were measured by
enzyme-linked
immunosorbent assays. We demonstrated that urine osmotic pressure, urine specific gravity, I-FABP, IFN-γ, IL-1β, and TNF-α were reduced by 8 weeks of
IMP supplementation, indicating that
IMP may have potential in preventing strenuous exercise-induced renal dysfunction, increased intestinal permeability, and
inflammation. Thus,
IMP supplementation may be a feasible nutritional approach for the prevention of unfavorable exercise-induced symptoms.