The interplay between gut microbiome and physical exercise in athletes

Autor(es)

Quaresma, Marcus Vinicius L. dos Santos ; Mancin, Laura ; Paoli, Antonio ; Mota, Joao Felipe

• Tipo de documento: Artigo Científico
• Fonte: CURRENT OPINION IN CLINICAL NUTRITION AND METABOLIC CARE; v. 27, n. 5, p. 6-pg., 2024-09-01.

Resumo

Purpose of reviewThe gut microbiome regulates several health and disease-related processes. However, the potential bidirectional relationship between the gut microbiome and physical exercise remains uncertain. Here, we review the evidence related to the gut microbiome in athletes.Recent findingsThe effect of physical exercise on the intestinal microbiome and intestinal epithelial cells depends on the type, volume, and intensity of the activity. Strenuous exercise negatively impacts the intestinal microbiome, but adequate training and dietary planning could mitigate these effects. An increase in short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) concentrations can modulate signaling pathways in skeletal muscle, contributing to greater metabolic efficiency, preserving muscle glycogen, and consequently optimizing physical performance and recovery. Furthermore, higher SCFAs concentrations appear to lower inflammatory response, consequently preventing an exacerbated immune response and reducing the risk of infections among athletes. Regarding dietary interventions, the optimal diet composition for targeting the athlete's microbiome is not yet known. Likewise, the benefits or harms of using probiotics, synbiotics, and postbiotics are not well established, whereas prebiotics appear to optimize SCFAs production.SummaryThe intestinal microbiome plays an important role in modulating health, performance, and recovery in athletes. SCFAs appear to be the main intestinal metabolite related to these effects. Nutritional strategies focusing on the intestinal microbiome need to be developed and tested in well controlled clinical trials. (AU)

• Processo FAPESP: 23/18422-0 - Efeito da suplementação probiótica associada à restrição calórica sobre o metabolismo da testosterona em homens adultos vivendo com obesidade: um ensaio clínico, randomizado, duplo-cego e controlado por placebo
• Beneficiário: Filipa Bettencourt Alves Carrilho
• Modalidade de apoio: Bolsas no Brasil - Iniciação Científica