Gutsy Running

You had the guts to sign up for an ultra endurance event, but are your guts ready for it? Gastrointestinal (GI) distress is a common issue experienced by endurance athletes during racing, and there is plenty of research aimed at gaining an understanding of its causes and potential treatments. 

A study published in the Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition in 2020 investigated the effects of a pre-race nutrition intervention on GI distress in marathon runners. The researchers found that a low-fiber, low-fat, and low-residue meal consumed before the race reduced the incidence and severity of GI distress compared to a high-fiber, high-fat, and high-residue meal (Parnell et al. 2022).

A systematic review and meta-analysis published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine in 2021 analyzed the effects of different nutritional interventions on GI distress in endurance athletes. The authors found that carbohydrate intake during exercise and probiotic supplementation may reduce the incidence of GI distress, while fat intake and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) use may increase the risk (Schreinber et al. 2022).

These studies suggest that pre-race nutrition, history of GI symptoms, carbohydrate intake during exercise, probiotic supplementation, and fat intake may be factors to consider in preventing or managing GI distress in endurance racing. However, more research is needed to confirm these findings and identify optimal strategies for individual athletes.🤓🏃🚴