Marathon runners and soldiers often complain that they suffer from chest infections when they exercise heavily, but new research has suggested that a compound found in fruits and tea may have a protective effect.
The flavanoid quercetin, which is found in apples, has been shown to bind to viruses and bacteria, stopping them from replicating.
Experts at the Appalachian State University gave one gram of quercetin per day - equal to eating 100 apples - to male cyclists and asked them to train at maximum intensity for three hours a day over a three-day period.
Researcher David Nieman told New Scientist magazine that, two weeks later, just one of the cyclists had suffered a chest infection, compared to nine cyclists in the placebo group.
The researcher noted that cyclists who took the supplement had high levels of quercetin in their bloodstream.
A separate study, published in the journal Thorax, suggests that compounds found in apples can also reduce the likelihood of children developing asthma if consumed during pregnancy.
Marathon runners and soldiers often complain that they suffer from chest infections when they exercise heavily, but new research has suggested that a compound found in fruits and tea may have a protective effect.
