Sports Dietitians Australia and Ultra Sports Science Foundation Joint Position Statement: A Practitioner Guide to the Prevention and Management of Exercise-Associated Gastrointestinal Perturbations and Symptoms

Abstract

It is now well-established that exercise can disturb various aspects of gastrointestinal integrity and function. The pathophysiology of these perturbations, termed “exercise-induced gastrointestinal syndrome (EIGS),” can lead to exercise-associated gastrointestinal symptom (Ex-GIS) inconveniences. EIGS outcomes can impact physical performance and may lead to clinical manifestation warranting medical intervention, as well as systemic responses leading to fatality. Athlete support practitioners seek prevention and management strategies for EIGS and Ex-GIS. This current position statement aimed to critically appraise the role of EIGS and Ex-GIS prevention and management strategies to inform effective evidence-based practice and establish translational application. Intervention strategies with mostly consistent beneficial outcomes include macronutrient (i.e., carbohydrate and protein) intake and euhydration before and during exercise, dietary manipulation of fermentable oligo-, di-, and mono-saccharides and polyols (FODMAP), and gut training or feeding tolerance adjustments for the specific management of Ex-GIS from gastrointestinal functional issues. Strategies that may provide benefit and/or promising outcomes, but warrant further explorations include heat mitigating strategies and certain nutritional supplementation (i.e., prebiotics and phenols). Interventions that have reported negative outcomes included low-carbohydrate high-fat diets, probiotic supplementation, pharmaceutical administration, and feeding intolerances. Owing to individual variability in EIGS and Ex-GIS outcomes, athletes suffering from EIGS and/or support practitioners that guide athletes through managing EIGS, are encouraged to undertake gastrointestinal assessment during exercise to identify underlying causal and exacerbation factor/s, and adopt evidence-based strategies that provide individualized beneficial outcomes. In addition, abstaining from prevention and management strategies that present unclear and/or adverse outcomes is recommended.