Bimuno GOS and its effect on hyperpnoea-induced bronchoconstriction and markers of airway inflammation

Hyperpnoea-induced bronchoconstriction (HIB) describes the transient narrowing of the airways following hyperpnoea, or rapid breathing (Needham, 2020). Approximately 10% of the general population experience HIB, however, it is extremely common in those with asthma, with more than 50% of individuals susceptible to the phenomenon (Needham.,2020). Importantly, HIB is closely related to exercise-induced bronchoconstriction (EIB) which is thought to occur in up to 54% of athletes, regardless as to whether they experience asthma (Koya et al., 2020). Providing relief for these individuals is key to supporting athlete wellbeing and for reducing the impact on sports performance.

Exercise-induced Bronchoconstriction in sport

EIB can occur during or following exercise, and often arises because of drying of the airways due to increases in respiration rate, and because of changes in airway osmolarity, irritant exposure and thermal changes (Gerow and Bruner., 2023; Williams et al., 2016). This leads to asthma-like symptoms, such as wheezing, shortness of breath, coughing and chest tightness which can impede sports performance, particularly when performing at the elite competitive level (Gerow and Bruner., 2023).

Most therapeutic options for the prevention and treatment of EIB include asthma medications, such as short-acting beta-agonists and corticosteroids, and non-pharmacological options, including using a heat exchange mask and avoiding triggers, which can include high-intensity exercise (Aggarwal et al., 2018). This presents a challenge for elite athletes as training and performing at high intensities is essential for competition success.

Gut microbiome in immune health

Research has established the importance of the gut microbiome in immune health. Gut microbes and their metabolites possess capabilities such as performing competitive exclusion, communicating with intestinal immune cells and regulating the production and release of immune mediators, such as cytokines (Wu et al., 2012). Therefore, modulating the gut microbiome to promote the growth of beneficial bacteria could be an avenue to support immune health.

Research using Bimuno GOS

In a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled study with a cross-over design, a total of 18 participants were recruited to understand the effects of Bimuno GOS on HIB and airway inflammation (Williams et al., 2016). 10 participants were adults with asthma and 8 were healthy individuals; each group were assigned to consume either 5.5g Bimuno GOS or a placebo for 3 weeks, followed by a 2-week washout period, before switching to the opposite treatment.

At day 0 and 21 of each treatment, baseline FENO (fractional exhaled nitric oxide) was measured along with markers of airway inflammation, such as tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), chemokine CC ligand 17 (CCL17) and c-reactive protein (CRP). These were then assessed again after eucapnic voluntary hyperpnoea (EVH) was performed. After the full 8-week intervention, those with HIB saw a reduction in baseline levels of TNF-α, CCL17 and CRP, as well as a reduction in EVH-induced increases to TNF-α after consuming Bimuno GOS. A 40% improvement in the post-EVH fall in forced expiratory volume in one minute (FEV₁) in the HIB group after supplementation with Bimuno was also noted. These findings are suggestive that modulating the gut microbiome could mediate the underlying immunopathology of asthma, and therefore attenuate the airway hyper-responsiveness that is associated with HIB/EIB.

You can read the full open access publication here: A prebiotic galactooligosaccharide mixture reduces severity of hyperpnoea-induced bronchoconstriction and markers of airway inflammation | British Journal of Nutrition | Cambridge Core

References

Aggarwal, B., Mulgirigama, A. and Berend, N. (2018). Exercise-induced bronchoconstriction: prevalence, pathophysiology, patient impact, diagnosis and management. npj Primary Care Respiratory Medicine, [online] 28(1). Available at: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6092370/.

Gerow, M. and Bruner, P.J. (2023). Exercise Induced Asthma. [online] PubMed. Available at: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK557554/.

Koya, T., Ueno, H., Hasegawa, T., Arakawa, M. and Kikuchi, T. (2020). Management of Exercise-Induced Bronchoconstriction in Athletes. The Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology: In Practice, [online] 8(7), pp.2183–2192. Available at: https://www.jaci-inpractice.org/article/S2213-2198(20)30252-X/fulltext.

Needham, R. (2020). Hyperpnoea-induced bronchoconstriction: prevalence in athletes, novel measure of airway inflammation, & treatment with the prebiotic Bimuno-Galactooligosaccharide - IRep - Nottingham Trent University. Ntu.ac.uk. [online] doi:https://irep.ntu.ac.uk/id/eprint/43030/1/Robert%20Needham%202021%20excl3rdpartycopyright.pdf.

Williams, N.C., Johnson, M.A., Shaw, D.E., Spendlove, I., Vulevic, J., Sharpe, G.R. and Hunter, K.A. (2016). A prebiotic galactooligosaccharide mixture reduces severity of hyperpnoea-induced bronchoconstriction and markers of airway inflammation. British Journal of Nutrition, 116(5), pp.798–804. doi:https://doi.org/10.1017/s0007114516002762.

Wu, H.-J. and Wu, E. (2012). The role of gut microbiota in immune homeostasis and autoimmunity. Gut Microbes, 3(1), pp.4–14. doi:https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.4161/gmic.19320#:~:text=The%20gut%20microbiota%20that%20resides%20in%20the%20gastrointestinal,can%20cause%20immune%20dysregulation%2C%20leading%20to%20autoimmune%20disorders.