In this pilot crossover randomized controlled trial, twenty (N = 20) para-athletes will participate in an intervention consisting of a four-week intake of probiotic, using the commercially available multistrain probiotic preparation BactoSan pro FOS from Mepha (Basel, Switzerland), followed by a four-week wash-out period, and a four-week prebiotic intervention using Naturaplan Bio Oat Bran (Coop, Switzerland). Total duration of the study will be 16 weeks.
The main objective of this pilot study is to obtain information, which will be used for the design of a main randomized controlled trial (RCT) with a larger size based on feasibility, validity and sample size estimation as well as the potential effects of pre- and probiotic intake on intestinal microbiota. A larger trial will then be designed to test the hypothesis that adding probiotics or prebiotics may improve gut microbiome composition, gastrointestinal symptoms as well as cardiometabolic health indices in mid-term and possibly lead to improved sports performance over a longer-term period in athletes with a Spinal Cord Injury.