The effects of exhaustive swimming and probiotic administration in trained rats: Oxidative balance of selected organs, colon morphology, and contractility

Microbial Champions: The Influence of Gut Microbiota on Athletic Performance via the Gut-Brain Axis

In recent years, exercise has shown a powerful ability to regulate the gut microbiota received with concern. For instance, compared with the sedentary group, high-level athletes showed a different gut microbiota composition and remarkable capability of physiological metabolism. In addition, different diet patterns (eg, high-fat diet, high carbohydrate diet et.al) have different effects on gut microbiota, which can also affect exercise performance. Furthermore, adaptations to exercise also might be influenced by the gut microbiota, due to its important role in the transformation and expenditure of energy obtained from the diet. Therefore, appropriate dietary supplementation is important during exercise. And exploring the mechanisms by which dietary supplements affect exercise performance by modulating gut microbiota is of considerable interest to athletes wishing to achieve health and athletic performance. In this narrative review, the relationship between gut microbiota, dietary supplements, training adaptations and performance is discussed as follows. (i) The effects of the three main nutritional supplements on gut microbiota and athlete fitness. (ii) Strategies for dietary supplements and how they exerted function through gut microbiota alteration based on the gut-brain axis. (iii) Why dietary supplement interventions on gut microbiota should be tailored to different types of exercise. Our work integrates these factors to elucidate how specific nutritional supplements can modulate gut microbiota composition and, consequently, influence training adaptations and performance outcomes, unlike previous literature that often focuses solely on the effects of exercise or diet independently. And provides a comprehensive framework for athletes seeking to optimize their health and performance through a microbiota-centric approach.

Gut Microbiota, Probiotics and Physical Performance in Athletes and Physically Active Individuals

Among athletes, nutrition plays a key role, supporting training, performance, and post-exercise recovery. Research has primarily focused on the effects of diet in support of an athletic physique; however, the role played by intestinal microbiota has been much neglected. Emerging evidence has shown an association between the intestinal microbiota composition and physical activity, suggesting that modifications in the gut microbiota composition may contribute to physical performance of the host. Probiotics represent a potential means for beneficially influencing the gut microbiota composition/function but can also impact the overall health of the host. In this review, we provide an overview of the existing studies that have examined the reciprocal interactions between physical activity and gut microbiota. We further evaluate the clinical evidence that supports the effects of probiotics on physical performance, post-exercise recovery, and cognitive outcomes among athletes. In addition, we discuss the mechanisms of action through which probiotics affect exercise outcomes. In summary, beneficial microbes, including probiotics, may promote health in athletes and enhance physical performance and exercise capacity. Furthermore, high-quality clinical studies, with adequate power, remain necessary to uncover the roles that are played by gut microbiota populations and probiotics in physical performance and the modes of action behind their potential benefits.

Gut-Muscle AxisExists and May Affect Skeletal Muscle Adaptation to Training

Excessive training may limit physiological muscle adaptation through chronic oxidative stress and inflammation. Improper diet and overtraining may also disrupt intestinal homeostasis and in consequence enhance inflammation. Altogether, these factors may lead to an imbalance in the gut ecosystem, causing dysregulation of the immune system. Therefore, it seems to be important to optimize the intestinal microbiota composition, which is able to modulate the immune system and reduce oxidative stress. Moreover, the optimal intestinal microbiota composition may have an impact on muscle protein synthesis and mitochondrial biogenesis and function, as well as muscle glycogen storage. Aproperly balanced microbiome may also reduce inflammatory markers and reactive oxygen species production, which may further attenuate macromolecules damage. Consequently, supplementation with probiotics may have some beneficial effect on aerobic and anaerobic performance. The phenomenon of gut-muscle axis should be continuously explored to function maintenance, not only in athletes.