An exploratory study of the management strategies reported by endurance athletes with exercise-associated gastrointestinal symptoms
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Supplementary material
Other Title
Authors
Scrivin, Rachel
Costa, Ricardo J. S.
Pelly, Fiona
Lis, Dana
Slater, Gary
Costa, Ricardo J. S.
Pelly, Fiona
Lis, Dana
Slater, Gary
Author ORCID Profiles (clickable)
Degree
Grantor
Date
2022
Supervisors
Type
Journal Article
Ngā Upoko Tukutuku (Māori subject headings)
Keyword
Athletes
Dietary strategies
Dietary fiber
Exercise
Gastrointestinal symptoms
Questionnaire
Ex-GIS
Low FODMAP
Dietary strategies
Dietary fiber
Exercise
Gastrointestinal symptoms
Questionnaire
Ex-GIS
Low FODMAP
ANZSRC Field of Research Code (2020)
Citation
Scrivin, R. A., Costa, R. J. S., Pelly, F., Lis, D., & Slater, G. (2022). An exploratory study of the management strategies reported by endurance athletes with exercise-associated gastrointestinal symptoms. Frontiers in Nutrition, 9:1003445. https://doi.org/10.3389/fnut.2022.1003445
Abstract
This exploratory study investigated endurance athletes self-reported exercise associated gastrointestinal symptoms (Ex-GIS) and associated strategies to manage symptomology. Adult endurance athletes with a history of Ex-GIS (n = 137) participating in events ≥ 60 min completed an online validated questionnaire. Respondents included runners (55%, n = 75), triathletes (22%, n = 30), and non-running sports (23%, n = 32), participating at a recreationally competitive (37%, n = 51), recreationally non-competitive (32%, n = 44), and competitive regional/national/international (31%, n = 42) levels. Athletes identified when Ex-GIS developed most frequently either around training (AT), around competitions (AC), or equally around both training (ET) and competitions (EC). Athletes reported the severity of each symptom before, during, and after exercise. Athletes predominantly categorized Ex-GIS severity as mild (< 5/10) on a 0 (no symptoms) to 10 (extremely severe symptoms) visual analog symptomology scale. The Friedman test and post hoc analysis with Wilcoxon signed rank test was conducted with a Bonferroni correction applied to determine differences between repeated measures. The only severe symptom of significance was the urge to defecate during training in the ET group (Z = –0.536, p = 0.01). Ex-GIS incidence was significantly higher during training and competitions in all categories. A content review of self-reported strategies (n = 277) to reduce Ex-GIS indicated popular dietary strategies were dietary fiber reduction (15.2%, n = 42), dairy avoidance (5.8%, n = 16), and a low fermentable oligosaccharides, monosaccharides, and polyols (FODMAP) diet (5.4%, n = 15). In contrast, non-dietary strategies included the use of medications (4.7%, n = 13) and relaxation/meditation (4.0%, n = 11). On a Likert scale of 1–5, the most successful dietary strategies implemented were dietary fiber reduction (median = 4, IQR = 4, 5), low FODMAP diets (median = 4, IQR = 4, 5), dairyfree diets (median = 4, IQR = 4, 5), and increasing carbohydrates (median = 4, IQR = 3, 4). Accredited practicing dietitians were rated as the most important sources of information for Ex-GIS management (n = 29). Endurance athletes use a variety of strategies to manage their Ex-GIS, with dietary manipulation being the most common.
Publisher
Frontiers
Permanent link
Link to ePress publication
DOI
https://doi.org/10.3389/fnut.2022.1003445
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Copyright notice
CC BY Attribution 4.0 International