Kent State’s Exercise Science/Physiology program received $248,000 grant from i-Health Inc. and DSM Nutrition to find out if probiotics can help combat heat-caused complications in exercise.

“We’re interested in the effects probiotic supplementation has on the performance, psychological and inflammatory responses to exercise in the heat,” said Adam Jajtner, assistant professor of exercise science/physiology.

Jajtner and Ellen Glickman, fellow of the American College of Sports Medicine and a Kent State professor, are bringing together the Exercise Physiology and Psychology departments for these studies.

Previous research in Spain looked at gut microbiota and its relation to exercise. The basis of this is maintaining gylcemia over time to improve endurance.

Since Nuria Mach, a researcher from the Open University of Catalonia, and Dolors Fuster-Botella, a researcher from the University of Paris-Saclay, ran two different studies, they believe more needs done in terms of probiotic research.

According to their research, certain strains of probiotics “help maintain a stage of general health, enhance immune function, improve gut mucosal permeability, reduce oxidative stress and obtain energy from plant-carbohydrate sources.”

While the grant has been approved, Glickman cannot release the methods in which they will be testing as it is still pending through the Institutional Review Board.

Dylan Thacker is a fitness and recreation reporter. Contact him at [email protected].