Intest Res.  2019 Oct;17(4):537-545. 10.5217/ir.2018.00162.

Frequency and intensity of gastrointestinal symptoms in exercisers individuals at rest and during physical exercise: an internet-based survey

• de Lira CA
• Viana RB
• Mesquista
• Santos DD
• Campos MH
• Andrade MS
• Vancini RL

• KMID: 2465819
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.5217/ir.2018.00162

Abstract

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.

Keyword

Gastrointestinal symptoms; Gastrointestinal tract; Exercise

MeSH Terms

Athletes
Eructation
Exercise*
Female
Flatulence
Gastrointestinal Tract
Humans
Male
Noise
Prevalence
Surveys and Questionnaires

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