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Feeding Tolerance to a Running Gut-Challenge Protocol: a Cross-Sectional Exploration
Isabel G Martinez1, Jessica R Biesiekierski1,2, Christopher E Rauch1
1Nutrition, Dietetics, and Food, Faculty of Medicine, Nursing, and Health Sciences, Monash University, Notting Hill, Australia.
International Journal of Sports Medicine
|April 27, 2025
Summary
Gastrointestinal function during endurance exercise is influenced by sex and exercise-associated gastrointestinal symptom history. Individualized management strategies are recommended over general demographic approaches for athletes experiencing gut issues.
Area of Science:
- Sports Science
- Exercise Physiology
- Gastroenterology
Background:
- Endurance athletes often experience gastrointestinal issues during prolonged exercise.
- Factors like sex, age, and prior gastrointestinal symptoms may influence exercise tolerance and performance.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate differences in gastrointestinal function, substrate utilization, and exercise performance.
- To compare these factors between male and female athletes, young and masters athletes, and athletes with or without a history of exercise-associated gastrointestinal symptoms (Ex-GIS).
Main Methods:
- Fifty-three endurance athletes completed a 2-hour run at 60% V̇O2max with carbohydrate intake, followed by a self-paced distance test.
- Collected blood and breath samples, measured substrate utilization, and assessed feeding tolerance and Ex-GIS history.
- Analyzed differences based on biological sex, age group, and Ex-GIS history.
Main Results:
- Symptomatic athletes reported lower interest in food and appetite during exercise compared to asymptomatic athletes.
- Females exhibited higher blood glucose concentrations and lower whole-body fat oxidation rates during exercise.
- Exercise performance was not significantly different across biological sex, age, or Ex-GIS history groups.
Conclusions:
- Gastrointestinal functional markers were similar across groups, but feeding tolerance and substrate utilization were influenced by Ex-GIS history and biological sex.
- Individualized management of gastrointestinal issues in athletes is more effective than generalized demographic approaches.
