Background/Aims Despite the evidence of a modest to high prevalence of gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms in recreational runners and endurance athletes, the frequency and intensity of GI symptoms in exercisers, but nonathletes, individuals from different modalities have been less investigated. Therefore, the present study aimed to assess the prevalence of GI symptoms in individuals that practice moderate or vigorous physical exercise, at rest and during physical exercise training session.
Methods The sample consisted of 142 exercisers individuals (64 women and 78 men with mean age of 32.9 ± 10.7 years). Out of the 142 participants, 71 reported to perform moderate physical exercise and 71 reported to perform vigorous physical exercise. Participants were assessed by an internet-based questionnaire designed to assess the frequency and intensity (at rest and during physical exercise training session) of 18 GI symptoms.
Results The GI symptoms most frequently reported by the respondents (during rest and physical exercise training session, respectively) were flatulence (90.8% and 69.7%), abdominal noise (77.5% and 41.5%), and eructation (73.9% and 52.1%). Overall, the frequency and intensity of symptoms were higher (P< 0.050) during rest than physical exercise training session for who perform moderate and vigorous physical exercise.
Conclusions It can be concluded that GI symptoms in exercisers, but nonathletes, individuals are more prevalent during rest than during physical exercise training session, suggesting that moderate and vigorous physical exercise may act as a regulator of the GI tract.
Citations
Citations to this article as recorded by
The Frequency and Severity of Gastrointestinal Symptoms in Rugby
Players Sarah Chantler, Ruth Wood-Martin, Adrian Holliday, Glen Davison, Daniel R. Crabtree, Clint Readhead, Ben Jones International Journal of Sports Medicine.2024; 45(04): 323. CrossRef
Use of Carbohydrate (CHO), Gluten-Free, and FODMAP-Free Diets to Prevent Gastrointestinal Symptoms in Endurance Athletes: A Systematic Review Karen Montero-Carrasco, Maria Jose Arias-Tellez, Johana Soto-Sánchez Nutrients.2024; 16(22): 3852. CrossRef
Exercise-Induced Gastrointestinal Symptoms in Endurance Sports: A Review of Pathophysiology, Symptoms, and Nutritional Management Emanuela Ribichini, Giulia Scalese, Alessandra Cesarini, Chiara Mocci, Nadia Pallotta, Carola Severi, Enrico Stefano Corazziari Dietetics.2023; 2(3): 289. CrossRef
Comparison of physiological and psychobiological acute responses between high intensity functional training and high intensity continuous training Douglas A.T. Santos, Naiane S. Morais, Ricardo B. Viana, Gustavo C.T. Costa, Marilia S. Andrade, Rodrigo L. Vancini, Katja Weiss, Beat Knechtle, Claudio A.B. de Lira Sports Medicine and Health Science.2023;[Epub] CrossRef