Abstract
Upper respiratory illness (URI) has a major impact on both training and competition in an athletic setting. High school athletes are a sub-category who have reported higher illness rates than professional and sub-elite high school athletes of the same sport. Olive leaf extract (OLE) is an over-the-counter supplement that contains polyphenols, notably oleuropein and hydroxytyrosol, that have antiviral, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties that may reduce URI rates. Thirty-two high school students who play sport for the elite team at their school were recruited to a randomised controlled trial and allocated to a daily placebo or OLE (extent equivalent to 20 g of olive leaf, containing 100 mg oleuropein) supplementation for nine weeks during their competitive season. Twice weekly measures of wellbeing, training load and respiratory illness (sporting upper respiratory illness (SUPPRESS) questionnaire) were recorded at trainings, meetings or games. There was no significant difference in illness incidence (odds ratio (OR): 1.02 (95% confidence interval (CI) 0.21–4.44)), but there was a significant 28% reduction in sick days (OR: 0.72 (95% CI 0.56–0.93) p-value = 0.02) when supplemented with OLE. The dietary intakes of the athletes were sub-optimal with regard to immune support. OLE supplementation over a season did not significantly reduce URI incidence, but did decrease duration in high school athletes, potentially aiding return to play.
Highlights
When an individual exercises, there is a 3 to 72 hour subsequent period known as the ‘open window’ where they are susceptible to illness due to altered immune function and activity [1].upper respiratory illness (URI) is a prevalent health complaint for athletes [2,3].URI episodes have a significant impact on training and performance with 19% and 31% of athletes reporting a decrease in or complete cessation of training, respectively [4]
Thirty-two students were recruited from three different sport codes
If a participant missed a few days consecutively it may have attenuated any effect of Olive leaf extract (OLE) supplementation. This is the first study investigating the effect of OLE on URI incidence and duration in school athletes
Summary
There is a 3 to 72 hour subsequent period known as the ‘open window’ where they are susceptible to illness due to altered immune function and activity [1].upper respiratory illness (URI) is a prevalent health complaint for athletes [2,3].URI episodes have a significant impact on training and performance with 19% and 31% of athletes reporting a decrease in or complete cessation of training, respectively [4]. Upper respiratory illness (URI) is a prevalent health complaint for athletes [2,3]. School athletes are a specific cohort who, in addition to high training loads, have external contributors (e.g., academic and social demands) that are associated with increased stress and URI risk [5]. This is illustrated by the increased illness rates in the 2012 Winter Youth Olympic Games (8.4%) [2,6]. It has been reported that the respiratory illness rates in elite high school athletes is higher than other levels in the same sport [7]
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