Gastrointestinal complaints in runners and their relationship to diets

Abstract

Background: Thesis: Runners are at risk of developing gastrointestinal complaints, dietary factors affect the occurrence of gastrointestinal symptoms. Objectives: 1. To examine the extent to which gastrointestinal ailments affect runners. 2. To indicate the type and timing of gastrointestinal complaints. 3. To determine whether the fact of the occurrence of gastrointestinal complaints is associated with the dietary behavior of these athletes. Material and methods: The study involved 67 runners including 47 women and 20 men from amateur running groups from several cities in Poland. To conduct the study, a proprietary questionnaire was created and made available at each group with the permission of the administrator. The results obtained on a quantitative scale are presented in descriptive form along with the percentages. Statistical analysis was performed using STATISTICA, and the significance of the results was assumed at p<0.05. Results: Among runners of all running groups from different cities in Poland, 61% reported experiencing at least one gastrointestinal complaint. Lower gastrointestinal complaints were the most common, with the highest prevalence for diarrhea - 27%. Problems occurred mainly during the run. Women were shown to be at a higher risk of experiencing ailments compared to men - 83%, 17%. Conclusions: 1. surveyed runners, especially women, experience gastrointestinal symptoms, 2. Among the respondents, complaints occurred from the lower gastrointestinal tract and included: diarrhea (27%), increased urge to stool, gas, flatulence, abdominal pain, intestinal cramps, constipation and colic, as well as the upper gastrointestinal tract: nausea, heartburn, burping on an empty stomach, regurgitation, reflux. Most symptoms occur during running. 3 No significant correlations were found between dietary behavior and the occurrence of gastrointestinal complaints in runners.