Significant Scientific Publication: The Impact of Isotonic Seawater on Nose Patency in Athletes

The study brought together the sports medicine expertise of the Croatian football teams and the proven benefits of JGL’s Aqua Maris brand, producing encouraging results that point to new opportunities for performance enhancement through scientifically and professionally supported methods. 

The randomised controlled trial included 64 healthy athletes and aimed to evaluate the effects of isotonic seawater on both subjective nasal patency, assessed using the NOSE (Nasal Obstruction Symptom Evaluation) questionnaire, and objective nasal airflow, measured by Peak Nasal Inspiratory Flow (PNIF).

“Studies show that up to 56% of athletes report issues with allergic rhinitis, which can hinder performance, while nasal obstruction may negatively impact sleep quality and increase the risk of asthma. Our aim was to explore the effect of isotonic seawater in healthy athletes – a topic that had not been previously studied. The intervention group, consisting of 33 athletes, used Aqua Maris Classic daily, while the control group did not use any nasal sprays. Both groups followed an identical seven-day training programme, with the intervention group applying the spray three times a day in both nostrils before training”, explains dr. sc. Vedrana Aljinović-Vučić, Director of Medical Affairs, adding that outcome measures (NOSE and PNIF) were collected at three-time intervals during the study.

The results demonstrated:

1. a significant impact of physical activity on nasal patency,
2. a significant reduction in subjective nasal obstruction in the Aqua Maris Classic group compared to the control group,
3. a synergistic and cumulative effect of nasal irrigation with isotonic seawater on nasal obstruction and patency during intensive physical activity, and
4. the safety, efficacy, and accessibility of this method for use in athletic populations.

"This clinical study is an important step toward a systematic approach to preserving athletes’ health, with a focus on the respiratory system and breathing. In professional sports, every detail can make a difference, and optimal nasal patency is a key prerequisite for quality sleep, recovery, and peak performance. We thank JGL for this commendable initiative and the opportunity to collaborate on a project that bridges scientific knowledge with the practical needs of athletes. We believe these results will serve as a foundation for further advancement of sports health at all levels", said dr. sc. Tomislav Vlahović, Head of the Croatian Football Federation’s Medical Department.

The results were published in the Journal of Clinical Medicine, a respected international scientific journal (Q1 in the category “Medicine, General & Internal”, indexed in Scopus, Web of Science (SCIE), PubMed, PMC, SciFinder and other SCIE databases).

“The study makes a significant contribution to the scientific understanding of local therapies in sports health and supports the routine use of isotonic seawater sprays as a safe and effective solution for athletes. Furthermore, the study marks an important advancement for JGL in the field of medical affairs and fosters the development of our intellectual property through post-marketing research with international scientific relevance”,  concluded dr. sc. Aljinović-Vučić.

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