VRI Biomedical completes Progastrim study

VRI Biomedical has completed a preliminary study demonstrating that their probiotic product Progastrim, which contains a proprietary strain of Lactobacillus fermentum, reduced respiratory symptoms in elite athletes.

"What we wanted to see was whether our strain would boost the immune systems of healthy people," CEO Dr Peter French told Australian Biotechnology News. Progastrim has already been shown in clinical studies to promote healthy intestinal balance and manage gastrointestinal disturbances.

Twenty elite male athletes at the Australian Institute of Sport took part in the double-blinded crossover study, and measures of training and performance, mucosal and systemic immunity, and illness were recorded over a four month period.

Although the study was too small to provide much in the way of statistically meaningful results, the results were encouraging, said French. While taking Progastrim, the athletes recorded significantly fewer days of respiratory illness, compared with taking a placebo. In addition, athletes taking the probiotic had improved levels of athletic performance, of mucosal antibody IgA1, and of immune cytokines, compared with those taking the placebo.

"Although it was a very small population, all the trends were in the right direction," French said.

The company is following up the results with a bigger study looking at clinical immune system markers and dose response in healthy people.

French said the results give confidence that the probiotic can improve the mucosal immune system via administration through the gastrointestinal tract, and open up new markets for the product.

Last week the company announced it had completed an agreement with Sydney-based Life Span Holdings for distribution of Progastrim in Australia and New Zealand, and French said the product was available as of this week.