Purpose: To quantify the impact of a 14-day bovine colostrum (BC) supplementation on intestinal cell damage following exercise in a hot and humid environment.
Methods: Ten male participants (20 ± 2 years, VO2max 55.80 ± 3.79 mL kg-1 min-1, 11.81 ± 2.71% body fat) ran for 46 ± 7.75 min at 95% of ventiliatory threshold in 40 °C and 50% RH following a 14-day double-blinded supplementation with either BC or placebo (Plac). Core temperature, skin temperature, heart rate, and rating of perceived exertion were recorded every 5 min during exercise. Blood was taken pre, post, 1 h, and 4 h post exercise. Intestinal cell damage was assessed via intestinal fatty acid binding protein (I-FABP).
Results: I-FABP concentrations were similar between conditions at all time points [pre 989.39 ± 490.88 pg ml-1 (BC) 851.35 ± 450.71 pg ml-1 (Plac) post 1505.10 ± 788.63 pg ml-1 (BC) 1267.12 ± 521.51 pg ml-1 (Plac) 1-h, 1087.77 ± 397.06 pg ml-1 (BC) 997.25 ± 524.74 pg ml-1 (Plac) 4-h, 511.35 ± 243.10 pg ml-1 (BC) 501.46 ± 222.54 pg ml-1 (Plac)]. I-FABP was elevated pre to post exercise for both BC (162 ± 50%) and Plac (162 ± 56%) (p < 0.05). BC had no effect on mean body temperature [beginning 36.11 ± 0.30 °C, ending: 39.52 ± 0.28 °C (BC); beginning:35.96 ± 0.43 °C, ending:39.42 ± 0.38 °C (Plac)].
Conclusions: While BC supplementation may protect against enterocyte damage during exercise in thermonuetral environments, our data suggest that BC supplementation may not be an effective technique for preventing enterocyte damage during exercise when core temperature exceeds 39 °C.
Keywords: Exertional heat illness; Gastrointestinal permeability.