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Cimetidine reduces running-associated gastrointestinal bleeding

A prospective observation

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Abstract

A prospective observational study was undertaken to compare the effect of cimetidine usage immediately before and during a 100-mile running race on the frequency of detectable gastrointestinal bleeding and to relate these data to the frequency and intensity of gastrointestinal symptoms and to training data collected from pre- and postrace questionnaires. Nine of 25 runners in the 1989 Old Dominion 100-mile Endurance Race took 800 mg of cimetidine 1 hr before the start and at 50 miles. Sixteen other runners acted as controls and were not different in age, gender, or training data. All runners also submitted three stool specimens from the week before the race and from the first three bowel movements after the race on standard Hemoccult cards. All runners were Hemoccult negative before the race. One of the 9 (11%) cimetidine runners and 14 of the 16 (87.5%) control runners were Hemoccult positive afterwards (P≤0.05). Nausea and vomiting were less in those runners taking cimetidine (P≤0.05). There was no difference in the race performance as related to the ability to finish or in the number of miles run during the race. This study may help to define the etiology of this common gastrointestinal bleeding in these ultradistance runners and may be useful in preventing some of the symptoms associated with long-distance running.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Human Performance Laboratory, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, Maryland

    Robert S. Baska MD, MAJ, MC, Frank M. Moses MD, LTC, MC & Patricia A. Deuster PhD

  2. Gastroenterology and General Surgery Service, Walter Reed Army Medical Center, Washington, D.C.

    Robert S. Baska MD, MAJ, MC, Frank M. Moses MD, LTC, MC & Patricia A. Deuster PhD

Authors
  1. Robert S. Baska MD, MAJ, MC
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  2. Frank M. Moses MD, LTC, MC
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  3. Patricia A. Deuster PhD
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The opinions and assertions contained herein are those of the authors and are not to be construed as reflecting the views of Walter Reed Army Medical Center, the Department of the Army or the Department of Defense.

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Baska, R.S., Moses, F.M. & Deuster, P.A. Cimetidine reduces running-associated gastrointestinal bleeding. Digest Dis Sci 35, 956–960 (1990). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01537243

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01537243

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