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Marathon runners: the intestinal handicap
1Montreal General Hospital/McGill University, Department of Surgery, Quebec, Canada.
Medical Hypotheses
|December 1, 1990
Summary
Strenuous exercise can cause ischemic enteropathy, a condition affecting the intestines. Feeding athletes an elemental semi-hydrolyzed diet may reduce intestinal complications and cardiovascular risks associated with this condition.
Area of Science:
- Exercise physiology
- Gastroenterology
- Sports medicine
Background:
- Intestinal complications are increasingly recognized following strenuous physical activity.
- Marathon runners may experience diarrhea and blood loss, indicative of ischemic enteropathy, not common diarrhea.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the potential of prefeeding an elemental semi-hydrolyzed diet to mitigate intestinal complications in marathon runners.
- To explore the impact of this dietary intervention on the cardiovascular system.
Main Methods:
- Review of experimental evidence and clinical data.
- Focus on the incidence and severity of intestinal issues in athletes.
- Assessment of potential cardiovascular effects.
Main Results:
- Suggests that prefeeding an elemental semi-hydrolyzed diet may reduce the incidence and severity of intestinal complications.
- Hypothesizes a reduction in adverse cardiovascular effects linked to acute ischemic enteropathy.
Conclusions:
- Elemental semi-hydrolyzed diets show promise in preventing exercise-induced intestinal problems.
- This dietary approach may offer cardiovascular protection for endurance athletes.
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