Gastrointestinal Blood Loss in Runners
Authors: FINLAY MACRAE
Journal: Annals of Internal Medicine (1984)

Letters and Corrections1 December 1984Gastrointestinal Blood Loss in RunnersFINLAY MACRAE, D. JAMES B. ST. JOHN, P. CALIGIOREFINLAY MACRAESearch for more papers by this author, D. JAMES B. ST. JOHNSearch for more papers by this author, P. CALIGIORESearch for more papers by this authorAuthor, Article, and Disclosure Informationhttps://doi.org/10.7326/0003-4819-101-6-875_1 SectionsAboutPDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissions ShareFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditEmail ExcerptTo the editor: McMahon and colleagues (1) studied faecal occult blood tests in runners before and after the 1983 Boston Marathon and concluded that runners' anemia is due at least in part to gastrointestinal blood loss.The methods used in their fecal occult blood testing do not allow them to draw this conclusion. In their study, the Hemoccult (SmithKline Diagnostics Division, Sunnyvale, California) slides were developed after preliminary rehydration, a technique that increases slide sensitivity for blood and other peroxidase-containing substances, particularly red meat (2, 3). The runners were not asked to restrict red meat or other peroxidase-rich foods (4)...References1. MCMAHON L, RYAN M, LARSON D, and FISHER R. Occult gastrointestinal blood loss in marathon runners. Ann Intern Med. 1984; 101:846-7. LinkGoogle Scholar2. MACRAE F and ST. JOHN D. Relationship of patterns of bleeding and Hemoccult sensitivity in patients with colorectal cancers or adenomas. Gastroenterology. 1982;82:891-8. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar3. CALIGIORE P, MACRAE F, ST. JOHN D, RAYNER L, and LEGGE J. Peroxidase levels in food: relevance to colorectal cancer screening. Am J Clin Nutr. 1982;35:1487-9. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar4. MACRAE F, ST. JOHN D, CALIGIORE P, TAYLOR L, and LEGGE J. Optimal dietary Conditions for Hemoccult testing. Gastroenterology. 1982;82:899-903. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar5. LIFTON L and KREISER J. False positive stool occult blood tests caused by non-preparations. Gastroenterology. 1982;83:860-3. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar6. STEWART J, AHLQUIST D, MCGILL D, ILSTRUP D, SCHWARTZ S, and OWEN R. Gastrointestinal blood loss and anemia in runners. Ann Intern Med. 1984;100:843-5. LinkGoogle Scholar1. MACRAE F, ST. JOHN D, CALIGIORE O, TAYLOR L, and LEGGE J. Optimal dietary conditions for Hemoccult testing. Gastroenterology. 1982;82:899-903. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar2. MCMAHON L, RYAN M, LARSON D, and FISHER R. Occult gastrointestinal blood loss in marathon runners. Ann Intern Med. 1984; 100:846-7. LinkGoogle Scholar3. LIFTON L and KREISER J. False positive stool occult blood tests caused by iron preparations: a controlled study and review of the literature. Gastroenterology. 1982;83:860-3. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar4. ACHORD J. Positive Hemoccult reactions after oral iron: true or false? [Letter]. Gastroenterology. 1983;84:670-1. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar5. STEWART J, AHLQUIST D, MCGILL D, ILSTRUP M, SCHWARTZ S, and OWEN R. Gastrointestinal blood loss and anemia in runners. Ann Intern Med. 1984;100:843-5. LinkGoogle Scholar This content is PDF only. To continue reading please click on the PDF icon. Author, Article, and Disclosure InformationAuthors: FINLAY MACRAE; D. JAMES B. ST. JOHN; P. CALIGIOREAffiliations: The Royal Melbourne Hospital Melbourne 3050, Australia PreviousarticleNextarticle Advertisement FiguresReferencesRelatedDetails Metrics 1 December 1984Volume 101, Issue 6Page: 875-875KeywordsAnemiaBloodDiagnostic techniquesFoodHematologic testsMeat ePublished: 1 December 2008 Issue Published: 1 December 1984 PDF downloadLoading ...