The Effects of Prebiotics on Gut Bacterial Parameters, Immune Function & Exercise-Induced Airway Inflammation.

Exclusion Criteria

• •Asthma defined as Steps 4 or 5 based on British Thoracic Society guidelines.
• •Asthma sufferers who do not have a current medication prescription from their GP (e.g. maintenance and reliever inhalers).
• •Regular consumption of Omega-3 supplements, and/or high levels of Omega-3 intake from food (e.g. consuming more than 1-2 portions of oily fish such as salmon or mackerel a week).
• •Regularly consume antioxidant supplements.
• •Standard multivitamin and mineral supplements are acceptable, as long as the product label states the recommended Dietary Reference Values (DRV's).
• •If a single antioxidant supplement (e.g. Vitamin C), exceeds the recommended daily DRV's this will be checked with the chief investigator.
• •Take a daily dose of aspirin or other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as ibuprofen.
• •Have consumed prebiotics and/or probiotics, drugs that affect gastrointestinal mobility, or laxatives in the 4 weeks before participation.
• •Currently taking a daily dose of anti-histamine, which could not be refrained from for 72 hours before each testing session.
• •Unable to refrain from taking Asthma medication (e.g. maintenance and reliever inhalers) for a prescribed duration before each testing session (e.g. 8-96 hours).
• •Vegetarian or vegan diet.
• •Previously diagnosed with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), emphysema, chronic bronchitis, or similar respiratory illness.
• •Participants with asthma that have ever been hospitalised due to asthma (e.g. intensive care unit).
• •Participants with asthma that have received treatment with oral corticosteroids/been admitted to hospital during the past 12 months for their asthma.
• •An increase/step-up in asthma medication during the study (e.g. moving from Step 1 to Step 2, Step 2 to Step 3 etc.).
• •Participants with asthma who do not obtain an additional prescription for a reliever inhaler to be stored securely at NTU if needed during visits. Additional prescriptions must be obtained before familiarisation/visit two. Participants will be reimbursed for the cost of additional reliever inhaler prescriptions.
• •History of heart failure, pulmonary hypertension, embolism, or other pulmonary heart disease.
• •History of recurrent chest infections.
• •Smoker.
• •Pregnant, planning pregnancy or lactating.
• •Had an acute infection in the last four weeks, and/or major operation in the past four months.
• •History of gastrointestinal drug reaction.
• •Have taken antibiotics in the past 3 months.
• •History or current evidence of gastrointestinal disease (e.g. chronic constipation, diarrhoea, irritable bowel syndrome, Chrohn's disease).
• •Have recently taken part in other research projects. Participants will be asked to notify the chief investigator.
• •Participants are, or believe that they are lactose intolerant.