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Polypodium leucotomos Extract use to prevent and reduce the risk of infectious diseases in high performance athletes

Authors Marí Solivellas B, Cabanes Martín T

Received 9 January 2012

Accepted for publication 10 July 2012

Published 16 October 2012 Volume 2012:5 Pages 149—153

DOI https://doi.org/10.2147/IDR.S29113

Review by Single anonymous peer review

Peer reviewer comments 4



Bartolomé Marí Solivellas, Teo Cabanes Martín

Sports Medicine Service, Mallorca Regional Government, Mallorca, Spain

Objective: Many components of the immune system undergo adverse changes during intense physical activity in athletes, leading to a heightened risk of respiratory tract infections. This study evaluated the reduction in infectious processes in athletes due to intensive training with anapsos.
Methods: The study compared athletes who took 480 mg Polypodium leucotomos Extract (Armaya fuerte; Centrum laboratories, Alicante, Spain) twice daily for 3 months (n = 50) with a control group (n = 50) in the evaluation of the onset of infectious processes and relapses during an 8-month period (June 2010 to January 2011).
Results: The onset of infectious processes in the Polypodium leucotomos Extract group was lower when compared to the control group (14% versus 56%). Relapse in the Polypodium leucotomos Extract group was seen in just one athlete (14.2%) compared to ten athletes (37.5%) in the control group.
Conclusion: Polypodium leucotomos Extract has been shown to be useful in the prevention of infectious processes, as well as reducing recurring episodes in athletes.

Keywords: immunological stress, recurrent infections, Polypodium leucotomos extract

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