Abstract
Purpose:
To determine the influence of acute resistance exercise and biological sex on subjective GI symptoms, GI epithelial damage, and GI permeability in resistance-trained males and females.
Methods:
Thirty resistance-trained men (n = 15) and women (n = 15) completed a resistance exercise bout (RE) and a non-exercise control (CON) session in a randomized, counterbalanced design. The RE protocol utilized a load of 70% 1RM for 4 sets of 10 repetitions with a 90-second rest period length between sets and a 120-second rest period between exercises (squat, seated shoulder press, deadlift, bent-over row, leg press). Blood samples were collected before exercise (PRE), immediately- (IP), 15-, 30-, and 60-minutes post-exercise. Participants completed GI symptom questionnaires to assess subjective GI symptoms PRE, IP, and 60-minutes post-exercise. Blood samples were assayed to quantify small intestine damage (I-FABP) and GI permeability (L/R ratio). Data were analyzed via separate repeated measures analysis of variance (ANOVAs) and area under the curve (AUC) analyses were completed via one-way ANOVAs.
Results:
Participants reported greater GI symptoms in RE at IP compared to CON (p < 0.001) with 70% of participants reporting at least one GI symptom with no differences between sexes. Nausea was the most reported GI symptom (63.3%), followed by vomiting (33.3%). I-FABP and L/R ratio did not exhibit differential responses between conditions. However, L/R ratio AUC was greater in males after RE than male CON (p = 0.002) and both conditions for females (p < 0.05). Furthermore, I-FABP AUC in the male RE condition was greater than both female conditions (p < 0.05).
Conclusions:
Resistance-trained individuals experience GI distress following resistance exercise, with males incurring the greatest increases in markers of GI damage and permeability.
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