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Cited by 361Gut microbiota and healthExercise and Physiological ResponsesProbiotics and Fermented Foods

The DOI matches its Crossref record; 109 of the 110 references it cites were found in a registry or an index.

Endurance exercise and gut microbiota: A review

Open access
Mach, Núria, Fuster-Botella, Dolors·2017·Journal of Sport and Health Science
DOI 10.1016/j.jshs.2016.05.001PMC PMC6188999
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Abstract

BACKGROUND: The physiological and biochemical demands of intense exercise elicit both muscle-based and systemic responses. The main adaptations to endurance exercise include the correction of electrolyte imbalance, a decrease in glycogen storage and the increase of oxidative stress, intestinal permeability, muscle damage, and systemic inflammatory response. Adaptations to exercise might be influenced by the gut microbiota, which plays an important role in the production, storage, and expenditure of energy obtained from the diet as well as in inflammation, redox reactions, and hydration status. METHODS: A systematic and comprehensive search of electronic databases, including MEDLINE, Scopus, ClinicalTrials.gov, ScienceDirect, Springer Link, and EMBASE was done. The search process was completed using the keywords: "endurance", "exercise", "immune response", "microbiota", "nutrition", and "probiotics". RESULTS: Reviewed literature supports the hypothesis that intestinal microbiota might be able to provide a measureable, effective marker of an athlete's immune function and that microbial composition analysis might also be sensitive enough to detect exercise-induced stress and metabolic disorders. The review also supports the hypothesis that modifying the microbiota through the use of probiotics could be an important therapeutic tool to improve athletes' overall general health, performance, and energy availability while controlling inflammation and redox levels. CONCLUSION: The present review provides a comprehensive overview of how gut microbiota may have a key role in controlling the oxidative stress and inflammatory responses as well as improving metabolism and energy expenditure during intense exercise.

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Fig. 1 The physiological and biochemical demands of endurance exercise elicit both muscle-based and systemic responses. The main adaptations to endurance exercise include an improvement of mechanical, metabolic, neuromuscular and contractile functions in muscle, a rebalance of electrolytes, a decrease in glycogen storage and an increase in mitochondrial biogenesis in muscle tissue. Moreover, endurance exercise has a profound impact on oxidative stress, intestinal permeability, muscle damage, systemic inflammation and immune responses. Additionally, there is increased ventilation and pumping function of the heart associated with substantially decreased peripheral vascular resistance in the muscles. This facilitates the delivery of oxygen and nutrients to working muscles, which consume high amounts of oxygen and nutrients, especially when exercise intensity increases. ↑: increases; ↔: no change in response; ↓: decreases; ↕: may increase or decrease.
Fig. 1 The physiological and biochemical demands of endurance exercise elicit both muscle-based and systemic responses. The main adaptations to endurance exercise include an improvement of mechanical, metabolic, neuromuscular and contractile functions in muscle, a rebalance of electrolytes, a decrease in glycogen storage and an increase in mitochondrial biogenesis in muscle tissue. Moreover, endurance exercise has a profound impact on oxidative stress, intestinal permeability, muscle damage, systemic inflammation and immune responses. Additionally, there is increased ventilation and pumping function of the heart associated with substantially decreased peripheral vascular resistance in the muscles. This facilitates the delivery of oxygen and nutrients to working muscles, which consume high amounts of oxygen and nutrients, especially when exercise intensity increases. ↑: increases; ↔: no change in response; ↓: decreases; ↕: may increase or decrease.CC BY-NC-ND · PubMed Central
Fig. 2 Complex polysaccharides are metabolized by the colonic microbiota to oligosaccharides and monosaccharides and then fermented to short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) end products, mainly acetate, propionate, and butyrate. The SCFAs are absorbed in the colon, where butyrate provides energy for colonic epithelial cells, and acetate and propionate reach the liver and peripheral organs, where they are substrates for gluconeogenesis and lipogenesis. The types and amount of SCFAs produced by gut microorganisms are determined by the composition of the gut microbiota and the metabolic interactions between specie.45 In addition to being energy sources, SCFAs control colonic gene expression involved in the immune response. It must be borne in mind that endurance diets are rich in protein (1.2–1.6 g/kg/day), which besides liberating beneficial SCFAs, produces a range of potentially harmful compounds in the intestine.
Fig. 2 Complex polysaccharides are metabolized by the colonic microbiota to oligosaccharides and monosaccharides and then fermented to short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) end products, mainly acetate, propionate, and butyrate. The SCFAs are absorbed in the colon, where butyrate provides energy for colonic epithelial cells, and acetate and propionate reach the liver and peripheral organs, where they are substrates for gluconeogenesis and lipogenesis. The types and amount of SCFAs produced by gut microorganisms are determined by the composition of the gut microbiota and the metabolic interactions between specie.45 In addition to being energy sources, SCFAs control colonic gene expression involved in the immune response. It must be borne in mind that endurance diets are rich in protein (1.2–1.6 g/kg/day), which besides liberating beneficial SCFAs, produces a range of potentially harmful compounds in the intestine.CC BY-NC-ND · PubMed Central
Fig. 3 Endurance: crosstalk between intestinal microbiota, immune responses and redox status. Endurance exercise may cause an increase in the number of pro-inflammatory cytokines, such as TNF-α, IL-1, IL-6, IL-1 receptor antagonist, TNF receptors, but also anti-inflammatory modulators (e.g., IL-10, IL-8), sIgA and intestinal lymphocytes. In turn, this inflammatory response may induce disbiosis and modifications of intestinal microbiome composition and their secreted products. Additionally there is an increase of tissue hyperthermia, gastrointestinal permeability and destruction of gut mucous thickness. Moreover, the activity of antioxidant enzymes may become weaker, which modify the mesenteric redox environment. In parallel, the epithelial barrier disruption enhances the TLRs-mediated recognition of gut commensal bacteria by effector cell types, which potentiate the immune response. IgA = immunoglobulin A; IL = interleukin; RONS = reactive oxygen and nitrogen species; ROS = reactive oxygen species; sIgA = secretory IgA; TLRs = toll-like receptors; TNF = tumor necrosis factor.
Fig. 3 Endurance: crosstalk between intestinal microbiota, immune responses and redox status. Endurance exercise may cause an increase in the number of pro-inflammatory cytokines, such as TNF-α, IL-1, IL-6, IL-1 receptor antagonist, TNF receptors, but also anti-inflammatory modulators (e.g., IL-10, IL-8), sIgA and intestinal lymphocytes. In turn, this inflammatory response may induce disbiosis and modifications of intestinal microbiome composition and their secreted products. Additionally there is an increase of tissue hyperthermia, gastrointestinal permeability and destruction of gut mucous thickness. Moreover, the activity of antioxidant enzymes may become weaker, which modify the mesenteric redox environment. In parallel, the epithelial barrier disruption enhances the TLRs-mediated recognition of gut commensal bacteria by effector cell types, which potentiate the immune response. IgA = immunoglobulin A; IL = interleukin; RONS = reactive oxygen and nitrogen species; ROS = reactive oxygen species; sIgA = secretory IgA; TLRs = toll-like receptors; TNF = tumor necrosis factor.CC BY-NC-ND · PubMed Central

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  1. Gleeson, 2007, Immune function in sport and exercise, Appl Physiol, 103, 693, 10.1152/japplphysiol.00008.2007 · DOI · Paper page

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Metadata

Authors
Mach, N., & Fuster-Botella, D.
Affiliations
Universitat Oberta de Catalunya (ES)
Corresponding author
Mach, Núria
ORCID
Mach, Núria
Venue
Journal of Sport and Health Science
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
2017-06
Volume
6
Issue
2
Pages
179-197
ISSN
  • 2213-2961 (ISSN-L)
  • 2095-2546
DOI
10.1016/j.jshs.2016.05.001
PMC
PMC6188999
OpenAlex
W2354159866
Cited by
361
References
110
Citations by year
2026: 39 · 2025: 37 · 2024: 38 · 2023: 40 · 2022: 56 · 2021: 35 · 2020: 56 · 2019: 34 · 2018: 13 · 2017: 8
FWCI
1.78
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
Locations
  • Journal of sport and health science/Journal of Sport and Health Science (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
  • Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • The Oberta in Open Access (Universitat Oberta de Catalunya) (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
  • HAL (submittedVersion, other-oa)
  • LA Referencia (Red Federada de Repositorios Institucionales de Publicaciones Científicas) (submittedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
  • DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion, cc-by-sa)
  • The Oberta in Open Access (Universitat Oberta de Catalunya) (submittedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
Funders
Universitat Oberta de Catalunya
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Gut microbiota and health
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Physiology (medical) › Exercise and Physiological Responses
  • Life Sciences › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Food Science › Probiotics and Fermented Foods
Keywords
endurance exercise, gut microbiota, athletes, probiotics, oxidative stress, inflammation, intestinal permeability, immune function, energy metabolism, energy availability, exercise adaptation, redox homeostasis

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