Baker's yeast β-glucan supplementation increases monocytes and cytokines post-exercise: implications for infection risk?

Br J Nutr. 2013 Feb 14;109(3):478-86. doi: 10.1017/S0007114512001407. Epub 2012 May 10.

Abstract

Strenuous aerobic exercise is known to weaken the immune system, and while many nutritional supplements have been proposed to boost post-exercise immunity, few are known to be effective. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate whether 10 d of supplementation with a defined source of baker's yeast β-glucan (BG, Wellmune WGP®) could minimise post-exercise immunosuppression. Recreationally active men and women (n 60) completed two 10 d trial conditions using a cross-over design with a 7 d washout period: placebo (rice flour) and baker's yeast BG (250 mg/d of β-1,3/1,6-glucans derived from Saccharomyces cerevisiae) before a bout of cycling (49 ± 6 min) in a hot (38 ± 2°C), humid (45 ± 2 % relative humidity) environment. Blood was collected at baseline (before supplement), pre- (PRE), post- (POST) and 2 h (2H) post-exercise. Total and subset monocyte concentration was measured by four-colour flow cytometry. Plasma cytokine levels and lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated cytokine production were measured using separate multiplex assays. Total (CD14⁺) and pro-inflammatory monocyte concentrations (CD14⁺/CD16⁺) were significantly greater at POST and 2H (P<0·05) with BG supplementation. BG supplementation boosted LPS-stimulated production of IL-2, IL-4, IL-5 and interferon-γ (IFN-γ) at PRE and POST (P<0·05). Plasma IL-4, IL-5 and IFN-γ concentrations were greater at 2H following BG supplementation. It appears that 10 d of supplementation with BG increased the potential of blood leucocytes for the production of IL-2, IL-4, IL-5 and IFN-γ. The key findings of the present study demonstrate that BG may have potential to alter immunity following a strenuous exercise session.

Publication types

  • Clinical Trial
  • Randomized Controlled Trial
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Bicycling
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Cross-Over Studies
  • Cytokines / blood
  • Dietary Supplements*
  • Double-Blind Method
  • Exercise*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Immunity, Innate
  • Immunomodulation*
  • Leukocyte Count
  • Male
  • Monocytes / cytology
  • Monocytes / immunology*
  • Monocytes / metabolism
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae / metabolism*
  • Stress, Physiological
  • Texas
  • Young Adult
  • beta-Glucans / metabolism*

Substances

  • Cytokines
  • beta-Glucans
  • beta-1,6-glucan
  • beta-1,3-glucan