Bowel function in runners after ingestion of sweeteners.
OBJECTIVE
This study investigates the bowel function in outdoor runners drinking sweetened solutions both by determination of H2 in exhaled air and asking about intestinal discomfort.


METHODS
Twenty-two athletes with a mean age of 22 +/- 3 yrs, received 100 ml of a 10% water solution of saccharose, glucose, mannitol, and isomalt respectively, before a 60 min outdoor run training. The trial was repeated on a rest day, one week later. Samples of the exhaled air were obtained at time zero (basal) and then every 15 min for a period of 3 hrs after administration of the solutions. The H2 was detected by breath test.


RESULTS
H2 excretion was lower during exercise. Suprabasal increments of breath hydrogen after saccharose load were significantly higher than after ingestion of mannitol (p < 0.05 between 1 and 3 hrs) and isomalt intake (p < 0.05 over 30 min). After glucose load, suprabasal increments of breath hydrogen were higher than after mannitol (p < 0.05 between 1 and 3 hrs) and isomalt (p < 0.001 between 1 and 3 hrs) ingestion.


CONCLUSIONS
The intestinal discomfort in runners drinking sweetened solutions seems to be related to different bowel transit time.
D'Alessandro
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A
Department of Internal Medicine and Public Health, Medical School, University of L'Aquila, L'Aquila, Italy.
Seri
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D000328:Adult; D001944:Breath Tests; D004063:Digestion / Q000187:drug effects; D004187:Disaccharides / Q000494:pharmacology; D005260:Female; D005947:Glucose / Q000494:pharmacology; D006801:Humans; D006859:Hydrogen / Q000032:analysis*; D007422:Intestines / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D008353:Mannitol / Q000494:pharmacology; D012146:Rest; D012420:Running / Q000502:physiology*; D013177:Sports / Q000502:physiology*; D013395:Sucrose / Q000494:pharmacology; D013402:Sugar Alcohols / Q000494:pharmacology; D013549:Sweetening Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*
D004187:Disaccharides; D013402:Sugar Alcohols; D013549:Sweetening Agents; D008353:Mannitol; D013395:Sucrose; C016640:Palatinit; D006859:Hydrogen; D005947:Glucose