Skydiving as a Model of Psychological Stress and Its Effect on Intestinal Barrier Function

Inclusion criteria

• Written informed consent prior to any study related procedures
• Age > 18 till <50
• Novice skydivers (first or second tandem jump)
• Signed up for tandem skydive
• Willing to abstain from probiotic products or medications known to alter gastrointestinal function throughout the study

Exclusion criteria

• Abdominal surgery which might influence gastrointestinal function, except appendectomy and cholecystectomy.
• Current diagnosis of hypertension.
• Current diagnosis of psychiatric disease.
• Over 100kg or with a body mass index over 35.
• Systemic use of steroids in the last 6 weeks.
• Use of antibiotics or antimicrobial medication in the last month.
• Daily usage of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs in the last 2 months or incidental use in the last 2 weeks prior to screening.
• Usage of medications that could affect the barrier function, except oral contraceptives, during the 14 days prior to screening.
• Diagnosed inflammatory gastrointestinal disease.
• Regular use of probiotics in the last 6 weeks.
• Smoking and/or chewable tobacco.
• Planned changes to current diet or exercise regime.
• Use of laxatives, anti-diarrhetics, anti-cholinergics within last 4 weeks prior to screening.
• Use of immunosuppressant drugs within last 4 weeks prior to screening.
• Women: Pregnancy, lactation.
• Abuse of alcohol or drugs.
• Any disease/condition which in the investigator's opinion could interfere with the intestinal barrier function.
• Any clinically significant disease/condition which in the investigator's opinion could interfere with the results of the trial.