Research by Kerry Group on its Wellmune baker’s yeast beta glucan shows positive health impacts for athletes.
More than a dozen peer-reviewed clinical studies are hailing the ability of a baker’s yeast beta glucan to strengthen athletes’ immune system post exercise, ingredients and flavour manufacturer Kerry Group says.
Wellmune is designed to reduce the severity and impact of upper respiratory tract infection (URTI) symptoms associated with intense exercise stress.
The natural immune health ingredient was studied as a drink additive for marathon runners post-race. Results showed it reduced the severity of URTIs by 19 per cent. Runners also missed fewer post-marathon workouts compared to the placebo group. Wellmune R&D director Donald Cox says the results are encouraging and provide a greater understanding of how the functional ingredient helps strengthen the immune system.
Wellmune has completed studies across “various life stages, lifestyles and product formats, and this study builds upon Wellmune’s proven immune health benefits,” Cox says.
Kerry is dedicated “to providing functional ingredients that are clinically supported, proven efficacious, and can easily be incorporated across a range of innovative food, beverage and supplement product applications,” Cox says. For Cox, the new studies – in combination with previous research – demonstrate the company’s commitment to a clinical research program.
