The effect of an acute bout of rugby training on plasma concentrations of intestinal fatty acid binding protein

Exercise appears to elicit damage to the gut endothelial cell lining as demonstrated through increases in concentration of plasma intestinal fatty acid binding protein (i-FABP). The majority of previous research has focussed on endurance exercise, with limited data on high intensity contact sports. The high intensity nature of rugby exercise, combined with trauma from collisions, suggests that this may cause considerable increases in gastrointestinal damage and permeability Therefore, the purpose of the study was to investigate the effects of a standardised rugby conditioning session on plasma i-FABP concentrations as a marker of gut endothelial damage.