Treatment with Oral Ondansetron for Ultramarathon-Associated Nausea: The TOO FUN Study

Area of Science:

• Sports Medicine
• Gastroenterology
• Pharmacology

Background:

• Nausea and vomiting are frequent issues for ultramarathon runners, often leading to race disqualification.
• Identifying effective treatments is crucial for improving runner performance and completion rates.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the efficacy of ondansetron, an antiemetic medication, in managing nausea and vomiting experienced by ultramarathon runners.
• To compare the effects of ondansetron against a placebo in a randomized, double-blind study.

Main Methods:

• Ultramarathon runners with a history of gastrointestinal distress were enrolled in a double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.
• Participants received either 4 mg of ondansetron or a placebo to be taken as needed for nausea or vomiting during 160, 80, and 55 km races.
• Post-race surveys collected data on medication use and perceived symptom improvement.

Main Results:

• A total of 62 participants were randomized, with 31 taking either ondansetron (20) or placebo (11).
• No statistically significant differences were observed between the ondansetron and placebo groups regarding the incidence or degree of symptom improvement (p = 0.26 and p = 0.15, respectively).

Conclusions:

• The study found no evidence to support the use of ondansetron capsules for alleviating nausea and vomiting in ultramarathon runners.
• Further research may be needed to explore alternative or combination therapies for managing exercise-induced gastrointestinal symptoms in endurance athletes.