An exploratory study of the management strategies reported by endurance athletes with exercise-associated gastrointestinal symptoms
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 que...
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2022-11-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Nutrition |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnut.2022.1003445/full |
| _version_ | 1828335936620986368 |
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| author | Rachel Scrivin Rachel Scrivin Ricardo J. S. Costa Fiona Pelly Dana Lis Gary Slater |
| author_facet | Rachel Scrivin Rachel Scrivin Ricardo J. S. Costa Fiona Pelly Dana Lis Gary Slater |
| author_sort | Rachel Scrivin |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | 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), dairy-free 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. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-13T21:53:31Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-33e73f45ac8649b396b8b8790d346737 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2296-861X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-13T21:53:31Z |
| publishDate | 2022-11-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Nutrition |
| spelling | doaj.art-33e73f45ac8649b396b8b8790d3467372022-12-22T02:28:21ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Nutrition2296-861X2022-11-01910.3389/fnut.2022.10034451003445An exploratory study of the management strategies reported by endurance athletes with exercise-associated gastrointestinal symptomsRachel Scrivin0Rachel Scrivin1Ricardo J. S. Costa2Fiona Pelly3Dana Lis4Gary Slater5School of Health and Behavioral Sciences, University of the Sunshine Coast, Sippy Downs, QLD, AustraliaFaculty of Health, Education and Environment, Toi Ohomai Institute of Technology, Tauranga, New ZealandDepartment of Nutrition Dietetics and Food, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, AustraliaSchool of Health and Behavioral Sciences, University of the Sunshine Coast, Sippy Downs, QLD, AustraliaDepartment of Neurobiology, Physiology and Behavior, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, United StatesSchool of Health and Behavioral Sciences, University of the Sunshine Coast, Sippy Downs, QLD, AustraliaThis 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), dairy-free 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.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnut.2022.1003445/fullathletesdietary strategiesdietary fiberexercisegastrointestinal symptomsquestionnaire |
| spellingShingle | Rachel Scrivin Rachel Scrivin Ricardo J. S. Costa Fiona Pelly Dana Lis Gary Slater An exploratory study of the management strategies reported by endurance athletes with exercise-associated gastrointestinal symptoms Frontiers in Nutrition athletes dietary strategies dietary fiber exercise gastrointestinal symptoms questionnaire |
| title | An exploratory study of the management strategies reported by endurance athletes with exercise-associated gastrointestinal symptoms |
| title_full | An exploratory study of the management strategies reported by endurance athletes with exercise-associated gastrointestinal symptoms |
| title_fullStr | An exploratory study of the management strategies reported by endurance athletes with exercise-associated gastrointestinal symptoms |
| title_full_unstemmed | An exploratory study of the management strategies reported by endurance athletes with exercise-associated gastrointestinal symptoms |
| title_short | An exploratory study of the management strategies reported by endurance athletes with exercise-associated gastrointestinal symptoms |
| title_sort | exploratory study of the management strategies reported by endurance athletes with exercise associated gastrointestinal symptoms |
| topic | athletes dietary strategies dietary fiber exercise gastrointestinal symptoms questionnaire |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnut.2022.1003445/full |
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