Dietary antioxidant intervention for reversal of airway inflammation and respiratory illness in athletes.

Two weeks following performing a VO2 max test to determine 90% VO2 max and after following a low antioxidant baseline diet (subjects will be provided with a diet protocol of foods to avoid), a sample group of moderately well-trained middle-distance and distance runners will follow a high-antioxidant diet for 14 days. After a two week washout the subjects will switch to the other diet. Using FoodWorks7, an analysis of antioxidant content of different fruits and vegetables has been conducted. Fruit and vegetable boxes will be designed to include fruits and vegetables with a high antioxidant content e.g. carrots, zucchinis, berries (>15,000ug). Participants will also be instructed to avoid other high antioxidant foods such as nuts, seeds, tea and wine. Fruit and vegetable boxes will be provided and a dietitian on hand if assistance with dietary prescription is required. Participants will be provided with a diet protocol specifying foods to avoid and ways to incorporate the fruits and vegetables provided, apart from this, subjects can consume any other foods. Participants will be instructed to consume 5 serves of vegetables and 2 serves of fruit/day. Diet will be monitored at the start and end of each 2 week period using a modified FFQ assessing fruit, vegetable and fat intake over the previous 2 weeks. Additionally, plasma carotenoids and tocopherols will be assessed. Impact on airway inflammation will be determined by measuring immunological markers, markers of anti-oxidant status and oxidative damage following a prescribed bout of treadmill running exercise (6x3mins intervals at 90% max with 90sec recovery).