Probiotics are increasingly well documented for their benefits in digestive health, immune defenses and even psychological stress. However, their benefits in sportsmen and women have not been fully investigated yet says Lucie Lingrand of Lallemand Health Solutions. Active people comprise everyone who lives a busy lifestyle from working mum, to active seniors up to professional athletes. They all share a common concern: awareness for a healthy lifestyle and nutrition to reach and maintain emotional and physical well-being.

Two recent clinical trials on the benefits of probiotics in Active People are an inspiration for the Sports Nutrition industry. The first clinical trial conducted on elite athletes showed that the probiotic strain L. helveticus Lafti® L10 induced a significant decreased of the duration of upper respiratory tract infections (URTIs) by 3.4 days and the number of symptoms has been decreased up to 29%. Several changes in immune markers were also recorded, such as an increased CD4+/CD8+ ratio during the treatment period and significantly higher IFN-γ in the probiotic group suggesting a better prevention of infections.

The second clinical study involving 585 healthy but stressed students investigated the benefits of individual probiotic strains on the proportion of healthy days in Active People stressed by everyday’s life during winter (academically stressed students is a validated model of lowered immunity that can apply to sportsmen). This unique study concluded that “Daily intake of Bifidobacterium bifidum R0071 provides benefits related to cold and flu outcomes during acute psychological stress”.

Offering an integrated range of solution, covering immunity, gastro-intestinal comfort and stress is really innovative for this target. Lallemand Health Solutions (LHS) has developed this specific 3-step program to optimize their work-out sessions. Backed by a rich history and 80 years of expertise in probiotic research and development, LHS offers a full line of ready-to-market probiotic formula and helps its partners designing their own custom & complex formulations. Because, from the lab to the shelf, LHS controls the overall manufacturing process of its products, the company can ensure customers are receiving the highest quality standard of probiotic formulation.