Gut-training as a Management Strategy for Exercise-associated Gastrointestinal Function and Symptoms

Exercise-associated gastrointestinal symptoms (Ex-GIS) are common in athletes that can impair performance and lead to clinical consequences. Gut-training - the structured and repetitive exposure of the gastrointestinal tract to food and fluid around exercise, may reduce Ex-GIS and improve tolerance to nutrition during exercise. This thesis explores supporting evidence for gut-training and examines factors such as nutrient density, carbohydrate composition, and individual characteristics such as biological sex, age, and Ex-GIS history on gastrointestinal function and integrity outcomes. It establishes that a 7-day repetitive feeding-challenge protocol may be of benefit to endurance and ultra-endurance athletes in reducing Ex-GIS severity.