We are conducting a world leading project in association with ‘The a2 Milk Company’, where we hope to gain a better understanding of the effects of milk on asthma, airway/gut health and exercise performance.
Who can take part?
We are looking for males and females aged between 18- 45 years with a diagnosis of asthma. You need to already be engaging in any endurance training (preferably running based) two times per week. To take part in this study your asthma should be under control (e.g. no hospitalisations in past 6 months due to asthma) and you should be free from heart disease, metabolic disease and musculoskeletal injury. You will be asked to complete a screening questionnaire that will check for any of these conditions.
What does the research involve?
On your first visit you will be asked to provide written informed consent and complete a health screening questionnaire and undertake some baseline lung function assessments to determine your suitability for the study. If you do not meet any of the exclusion you will be deemed suitable to take part in the study and asked to perform a maximal exercise (VO2max) test to measure your fitness level. Following this initial visit, we will write to your GP to make them aware of your involvement in the study. Over the next 7-days we ask you not to consume any milk and you will have to stop using your asthma inhalers as prior to the next visit.
After the 7-day milk wash out you will return to the laboratory on two occasions separated by 48 hours. The first of these visits will include completing an asthma challenge, and the second visit will involve completing a 3 km time trial run on a treadmill. For the next two weeks you will be able to use your asthma medication, train and eat as normal, however you will have to replace any milk in your diet with the milk we provide you (either regular cows’ milk or A2 milk). During the two-week period you will be asked to record the volume of milk you drink, stool consistency (using a rating scale), duration and type of training and inhaler use.
Directly following the two weeks you will complete the asthma challenge and 3 km time trial separated by 48 hours. You will then repeat the cycle using the other type of milk (i.e. if regular last time A2 this time, and vice versa).
What are the possible benefits of taking part?
- A free full assessment of your respiratory function
- A free maximal exercise test
- Multiple running performance tests
- If a change in milk can improve your asthma control.
How long does the study participation last for?
The study will last 9 weeks, for a total of 8 visits. Each testing session will last no longer than 150 minutes.
To compensate for the time and travel, you will be offered £200. Free milk is provided for a 4-week period in the study.
Contact:
If you are interested and would like more information, please contact Will Gowers on W.E.Gowers@kent.ac.uk