TY - JOUR
T1 - An Exploratory Study Investigating the Prevalence of Gastrointestinal Symptoms in Collegiate Division I American Football Athletes
AU - Wardenaar, Floris C.
AU - Schott, Kinta D.
AU - Mohr, Alex E.
AU - Ortega-Santos, Carmen P.
AU - Connolly, John E.
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2023 by the authors.
PY - 2023/8
Y1 - 2023/8
N2 - Gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms may limit performance, but their prevalence and impact among team sports athletes is not well-documented. The objective of this study was to examine the prevalence of GI symptoms in a small sample of collegiate DI American football athletes, using a survey including the Gastrointestinal Symptoms Ratings Scale (GSRS). Forty-six athletes responded to the survey and reported scores for the 15-question GSRS with additional questions about dietary habits and supplement use. A total of 44 athletes were included in the study (45% of the current roster, age: 20.7 ± 1.7 years, 50% Afro-American or black, 39% skill position, 18% NSAIDs use, and 41% reporting protein supplement use); approximately half of the athletes (52%) reported experiencing GI complaints during exercise. Two-thirds of the athletes (61%) reported at least one or more GI symptoms in general, and 50% reported at least four moderate complaints. Seven athletes (16%) reported ≥2 severe GI symptoms with 5–13 moderate complaints. The most reported symptom was stomach pain (39%, n = 17), followed by hunger pain (36%, n = 16). Athletes reporting the use of protein supplements reported a higher GSRS score (22.0 and interquartile range (IQR) 17.0–31.8) vs. athletes not reporting protein use (15.0 and IQR 15.0–19.3), p = 0.001. Most athletes surveyed reported experiencing GI symptoms. A small group of these athletes reported multiple, varied, and severe symptoms that were associated with self-reported protein supplement use. In conclusion, the number of complaints varied among athletes, confirming the value of integrating the GSRS for screening purposes, and the expected need for individual dietary treatment approaches.
AB - Gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms may limit performance, but their prevalence and impact among team sports athletes is not well-documented. The objective of this study was to examine the prevalence of GI symptoms in a small sample of collegiate DI American football athletes, using a survey including the Gastrointestinal Symptoms Ratings Scale (GSRS). Forty-six athletes responded to the survey and reported scores for the 15-question GSRS with additional questions about dietary habits and supplement use. A total of 44 athletes were included in the study (45% of the current roster, age: 20.7 ± 1.7 years, 50% Afro-American or black, 39% skill position, 18% NSAIDs use, and 41% reporting protein supplement use); approximately half of the athletes (52%) reported experiencing GI complaints during exercise. Two-thirds of the athletes (61%) reported at least one or more GI symptoms in general, and 50% reported at least four moderate complaints. Seven athletes (16%) reported ≥2 severe GI symptoms with 5–13 moderate complaints. The most reported symptom was stomach pain (39%, n = 17), followed by hunger pain (36%, n = 16). Athletes reporting the use of protein supplements reported a higher GSRS score (22.0 and interquartile range (IQR) 17.0–31.8) vs. athletes not reporting protein use (15.0 and IQR 15.0–19.3), p = 0.001. Most athletes surveyed reported experiencing GI symptoms. A small group of these athletes reported multiple, varied, and severe symptoms that were associated with self-reported protein supplement use. In conclusion, the number of complaints varied among athletes, confirming the value of integrating the GSRS for screening purposes, and the expected need for individual dietary treatment approaches.
KW - gastrointestinal symptom rating scale
KW - gut
KW - high-intensity exercise
KW - protein use
KW - team-sport athletes
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U2 - 10.3390/ijerph20156453
DO - 10.3390/ijerph20156453
M3 - Article
C2 - 37568995
AN - SCOPUS:85167745852
SN - 1661-7827
VL - 20
JO - International journal of environmental research and public health
JF - International journal of environmental research and public health
IS - 15
M1 - 6453
ER -