Gastrointestinal Disturbances Among Athletes

Surveys of recreational and competitive athletes indicate that digestive/ gastrointestinal (GI) disorders are common both during training and during competitive endurance events (3,4,7,12,13,15,17). Women appear to be most susceptible, but complaints by men are frequent. The most severe symptoms occur during running rather than biking or swimming, but symptoms are noted during all activities. Symptoms reported include the urge to defecate, incapacitating diarrhea, loose stools, nausea, vomiting, rectal bleeding, abdominal pain, flatulence, acid reflux and belching (3,4,7,12,13,15,17). In one study of 71 male and female recreational triathletes, over half reported symptoms on a regular basis, and 10 of these individuals took medications routinely for the symptoms (17). In another study of triathletes, 48% of the men complained of eructation and flatulence (13). Furthermore, one or more symptoms of GI distress were reported by 42% of men and 57% of women during a 67 km race (12).