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Cited by 64Gastrointestinal motility and disordersGastroesophageal reflux and treatmentsPelvic floor disorders treatments

Objective evaluation of small bowel and colonic transit time using pH telemetry in athletes with gastrointestinal symptoms

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Rao, K A, Yazaki, E, Evans, D F, Carbon, R·2004·British Journal of Sports Medicine
DOI 10.1136/bjsm.2003.006825PMC PMC1724875
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Abstract

Background: Gastrointestinal (GI) disturbances are often reported by long distance runners and are more common in women, particularly after prolonged high intensity exercise. Objectives: To determine whether these symptoms could be associated with alterations in GI motility. Methods: Small bowel and colonic transit were measured using pH telemetry in a group of 11 female athletes (age 22 to 53 years), six of whom experienced lower GI symptoms during exercise. Subjects participated in two experimental sessions: a control measurement, where small bowel transit was estimated during a rest period (R) of six hours; and an exercise session (E), where small bowel transit was measured during a one hour period of high intensity exercise (cross country running) at >70% V˙O 2 max. Colonic transit was estimated indirectly from determinations of whole gut transit time by radio-opaque marker. Results: Small bowel transit time was 3.5 to 10.6 h (R) and 3.0 to 8.7 h (E) in asymptomatic athletes, versus 4.0 to 6.6 h (R) and 4.6 to 7.3 h (E) in symptomatic athletes (NS). Colonic transit time was 35.0 to 62.5 h (R) and 30.5 to 70.9 h (E) in asymptomatic athletes versus 20.4 to 42.9 h (R) and 21.5 to 67.2 h (E) in symptomatic athletes (NS). Conclusions: Small bowel and colonic transit times were similar in the two groups in the rest and exercise sessions. The diarrhoea seen in this study did not result from accelerated colonic transit. Other mechanisms must be sought.

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  • Studies performed so far suggest that the effects of exercise on the small bowel as well as on the colon are limited.

    “Studies performed so far suggest that the effects of exercise on the small bowel as well as on the colon are limited.”

    From Gastrointestinal Complaints During Exercise: Prevalence, Etiology, and Nutritional Recommendations (2014) · cites this paper as [32]

    The Discussion (page unavailable) reports no exercise-related change in small-bowel transit in symptomatic athletes, and the Colonic transit results (page unavailable) report no significant difference between rest and exercise. That supports a limited effect on measured transit in this study, but not the broader claim about studies performed so far: the Discussion describes conflicting transit findings and reports exercise-related changes in intestinal and colonic motility. (LLM, conf=0.82)

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  • In one study, small bowel and colonic transit times were similar in symptomatic and asymptomatic runners at rest.

    “It was observed that small bowel and colonic transit times were similar in the two groups at rest.”

    From Gastrointestinal Complaints During Exercise: Prevalence, Etiology, and Nutritional Recommendations (2014) · cites this paper as [32]

  • Although diarrhea was reported in that study, there was no link with colonic transit time and therefore there must be another cause for the observed gastrointestinal symptoms.

    “Interestingly, although diarrhea was reported in that study, there was no link with colonic transit time and therefore there must be another cause for the observed gastrointestinal symptoms.”

    From Gastrointestinal Complaints During Exercise: Prevalence, Etiology, and Nutritional Recommendations (2014) · cites this paper as [32]

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Research works printed but not linked: 7

  1. [1]1. Rao, Yazaki, Evans, et al www.bjsportmed.com on August 15, 2023 by guest. Protected by copyright. http://bjsm.bmj.com/ Br J Sports Med: first published as 10.1136/bjsm.2003.006825 on 23 July 2004. Downloaded from REFERENCES
  2. [2]2. Halvorsen FA, Lyng J, Glamsker T, et al. Gastrointestinal disturbances. Br J Sports Med 1990;24:266-8.
  3. [5]5. Evans DF, Pye G, Bramley R, et al. Does exercise affect small bowel motility in man? [Abstract] Gut 1982;24:A1012.
  4. [10]10. Bond JH, Levitt MD. Investigation of small bowel transit in man utilizing pulmonary (H 2 ) measurements. J Lab Clin Med 1975;85:546-55.
  5. [21]21. Moses FM. The effect of exercise on the GI tract. Sports Med 1990;9:159-72.
  6. [23]23. Bingham SA, Cummings JW. Effects of exercise and physical fitness on large intestinal function. Gastroenterology 1989;97:1389-99.
  7. [25]25. Cheskin LJ, Crowell MD, Kamal N, et al. The effects of acute exercise on colonic motility. J Gastrointest Motil 1992;4:173-7.

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Authors
Rao, K. A., Yazaki, E., Evans, D. F., & Carbon, R.
Affiliations
Queen Mary University of London (GB)
Corresponding author
Rao, K A
ORCID
Yazaki, E
Venue
British Journal of Sports Medicine
Publisher
BMJ
Published
2004-07-23
Volume
38
Issue
4
Pages
482-487
ISSN
  • 0306-3674 (ISSN-L)
  • 1473-0480
DOI
10.1136/bjsm.2003.006825
PMC
PMC1724875
OpenAlex
W2162865942
Cited by
64
References
25
Citations by year
2026: 1 · 2025: 3 · 2024: 3 · 2023: 3 · 2022: 8 · 2021: 3 · 2020: 6 · 2019: 3 · 2018: 1 · 2017: 2 · 2016: 2 · 2015: 3 · 2014: 3 · 2013: 2 · 2012: 4
FWCI
0.79
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • British Journal of Sports Medicine (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Gastroenterology › Gastrointestinal motility and disorders
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Gastroenterology › Gastroesophageal reflux and treatments
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Rheumatology › Pelvic floor disorders treatments
Keywords
gastrointestinal transit time, small intestinal transit, colonic transit, female athletes, long-distance running, exercise-induced gastrointestinal symptoms, diarrhea, gastrointestinal motility, high-intensity exercise, whole gut transit time
MeSH terms
Adult, Colon, Diarrhea, Fecal Incontinence, Female, Gastrointestinal Transit, Humans, Hydrogen-Ion Concentration, Intestine, Small, Middle Aged, Muscle Cramp, Running, Telemetry

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