B 221 - Marathoner's cure for bowel related problems? : double blind, placebo controlled study of egg powder B 221 in reducing disturbances in the gastrointestinal tract during long distance running

Abstract: A double blind, placebo-controlled and randomized study was conducted at Stockholm Marathon 2011. The aim was to investigate if egg yolk powder B 221 with high levels of Antisecretory factor could decrease the prevalence of diarrhea among runners that had experienced diarrhea at >50% of their marathon races. The study did not reach the planned number of 200 study subjects and also encountered problems with dropouts. The number of study subjects was 55 on the day of the marathon. There was no significant difference between placebo and active treatment (p=0.23). The prevalence of diarrhea was 59% (B 221) and 43% (placebo), respectively. The study could not show that a diet supplemented with B 221 had a decreasing effect on the prevalence of diarrhea in the studied population during the day of the marathon race.