Nutritional Intake and Gastrointestinal Problems during Competitive Endurance Events.

There is little information about the actual nutrition and fluid intake habits, and gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms of athletes during endurance events. PURPOSE:: To quantify and characterize energy, nutrient and fluid intakes during endurance competitions and investigate associations with GI symptoms. METHOD:: 221 endurance athletes (male and female) were recruited from two Ironman triathlons (IM Hawaii and IM GER), a half-Ironman (IM70.3), a MARATHON, a 100/150 km CYCLE race. Professional cyclists (PRO) were investigated during stage-racing. A standardized post-race questionnaire quantified nutrient intake and assessed 12 GI symptoms on a scale from 0 (no problem) to 9 (worst it has ever been) in each competition. RESULTS:: Mean CHO intake rates were not significantly different between IM Hawaii, IM GER and IM70.3 (62±26, 71±25 g/h and 65±25 g/h, respectively), but lower mean CHO intake rates were reported during CYCLE (53±22 g/h, p=0.044) and MARATHON (35±26 g/h; p