Gut Microbiome Composition Tied to Athletic Performance
Gut microbiome health is everywhere and for good reason! It can even have an impact on your physical or athletic performance.
Could a bunch of very small bugs make us better athletes?
A case-control study published in Plos One investigating the microbiomes of athletes and non-athletes following a bout of intense exercise reports significant associations between performance measures and gut microbes. In the investigation, 52 healthy males where assigned to either a strength, endurance or control group, and their feces were analyzed for microorganism DNA before and after two exercise tests. The results showed that one-third of the species identified were unique to each group, and that some gut microbiome species including Bifidobacterium longum were strongly associated with maximal oxygen consumption/uptake (VO2 max). Other species were linked to maximal power, as measured by the Wingate anaerobic power test. The study authors surmise that the performance benefits are the result of the short-chain fatty acids these microorganisms produce, which can serve as a substrate for metabolism and alter skeletal muscle functioning. Since these findings suggest that the gut microbiome is linked to sporting performance, perhaps in the future athletes will be able to intentionally alter their microbiome for targeted athletic performance. The alterations in microbiome composition incurred from exercise may be partially responsible for the positive health outcomes associated with physical activity.
Want to learn more? Gut Microbiome and Athletic Performance
References
https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0297858
Matthew Kadey, MS, RD
Matthew Kadey, MS, RD, is a James Beard Award–winning food journalist, dietitian and author of the cookbook Rocket Fuel: Power-Packed Food for Sport + Adventure (VeloPress 2016). He has written for dozens of magazines, including Runner’s World, Men’s Health, Shape, Men’s Fitness and Muscle and Fitness.
