The DOI matches its Crossref record; 24 of the 24 references it cites were found in a registry or an index.
Gut Microbiota Composition Is Related to Cardiorespiratory Fitness in Healthy Young Adults
Open accessAbstract
Bacteria residing in the human gastrointestinal tract has a symbiotic relationship with its host. Animal models have demonstrated a relationship between exercise and gut microbiota composition. This was the first study to explore the relationship between cardiorespiratory fitness (maximal oxygen consumption, VO 2 max) and relative gut microbiota composition (Firmicutes to Bacteroidetes ratio [F/B]) in healthy young adults in a free-living environment. Twenty males and 17 females (25.7 ± 2.2 years), who did not take antibiotics in the last 6 months, volunteered for this study. VO 2 max was measured using a symptom-limited graded treadmill test. Relative microbiota composition was determined by analyzing DNA extracted from stool samples using a quantitative polymerase chain reaction that specifically measured the quantity of a target gene (16S rRNA) found in Firmicutes and Bacteroidetes. Relationships between F/B and potentially related dietary, anthropometric, and fitness variables were assessed using correlation analyses with an appropriate Bonferroni adjustment ( p < .004). The average F/B ratio in all participants was 0.94 ± 0.03. The F/B ratio was significantly correlated to VO 2 max ( r = .48, p < .003), but no other fitness, nutritional intake, or anthropometric variables ( p > .004). VO 2 max explained ∼22% of the variance of an individual’s relative gut bacteria as determined by the F/B ratio. These data support animal findings, demonstrating a relationship between relative human gut microbiota composition and cardiorespiratory fitness in healthy young adults. Gastrointestinal bacteria is integral in regulating a myriad of physiological processes, and greater insight regarding ramifications of exercise and nutrition on gut microbial composition may help guide therapies to promote human health.
Overview
The claims and statistics of this paper haven’t been checked yet.
Run the check — free, no account needed. It reads the open-access text and checks the sources it cites.
Integrity signals
Registry
Cites
Statistics
Verification
Claims the paper makes
The claims and statistics of this paper haven’t been checked yet.
Run the check — free, no account needed. It reads the open-access text and checks the sources it cites.
Claims other papers make about this one
Each is checked against this paper’s own text: does it say what the citing paper says it does?
In the citing paper
“While no other relationships between the gut microbiota and fitness, nutritional intake, or anthropometric variables were found, VO2max accounted for ~ 22% of the variance of an individual’s relative gut bacteria (as determined by the Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes ratio).”
From The athletic gut microbiota (2020) · cites this paper as [93]
In the citing paper
“Durk et al. [93] also explored the relationship between cardiorespiratory fitness and relative gut microbiota composition in healthy young adults showing that Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes ratio was significantly positively correlated to VO2max.”
From The athletic gut microbiota (2020) · cites this paper as [93]
Self-check
Percentages, sums and reported differences re-computed from the paper’s own numbers.
The self-check needs the paper’s full text.
Citations
Cites
Human gut microbes associated with obesity
Ley, R. E., Turnbaugh, P. J., Klein, S., & Gordon, J. I. (2006) · Nature · doi:10.1038/4441022a · Cited by 8,785 · cited 5×
“, 2013) and diseases, such as obesity (Ley et al., 2006).”
BackgroundResultInfluentialRevised Estimates for the Number of Human and Bacteria Cells in the Body
Sender, R., Fuchs, S., & Milo, R. (2016) · PLOS Biology · doi:10.1371/journal.pbio.1002533 · Cited by 5,425 · cited 2×
“…Firmicutes; Bacteroidetes; VO2max; body composition; BodPod; nutrition INTRODUCTION The human body contains a vast number of bacteria cells (Sender et al., 2016) and the composition of bacteria in the gut (i.e., gut microbiota) is linked to a variety of physiological functions (Sommer et…”
BackgroundThe gut microbiota--masters of host development and physiology
Sommer, F., & Bäckhed, F. (2013) · Nature Reviews Microbiology · doi:10.1038/nrmicro2974 · Cited by 3,681
Peng, L., Li, Z.-R., Green, R. S., Holzmanr, I. R., & Lin, J. (2009) · The Journal of Nutrition · doi:10.3945/jn.109.104638 · Cited by 2,130 · cited 1×
“Butyrate production may be important as it is linked to improving the intestinal barrier, which is responsible for sequestering toxic agents and bacteria within the intestine (Peng et al., 2009).”
BackgroundExercise and associated dietary extremes impact on gut microbial diversity
Clarke, S. F., Murphy, E. F., O'Sullivan, O., Lucey, A. J., Humphreys, M., Hogan, A., Hayes, P., O'Reilly, M., Jeffery, I. B., Wood-Martin, R., et al. (2014) · Gut · doi:10.1136/gutjnl-2013-306541 · Cited by 1,439 · cited 4×
“Recent findings suggest a dynamic relationship between gut microbiota and physical activity levels (Allen et al., 2017; Choi et al., 2013; Clarke et al., 2014; Estaki et al., 2016; Evans et al., 2014; Lambert et al., 2015; Petersen et al., 2017; Petriz et al., 2014; Queipo-Ortuno et al., 2013), with professional athle…”
BackgroundInfluentialGut Microbiomes of Malawian Twin Pairs Discordant for Kwashiorkor
Smith, M. I., Yatsunenko, T., Manary, M. J., Trehan, I., Mkakosya, R., Cheng, J., Kau, A. L., Rich, S. S., Concannon, P., Mychaleckyj, J. C., et al. (2013) · Science · doi:10.1126/science.1229000 · Cited by 1,173 · cited 2×
“As microbial transplantation has proven to help restore health status in disease populations (Smith et al., 2013), the growing body of literature on physical activity and gut health may help to inform future bacterial therapeutic interventions attempting to restore microbial homeostasis and…”
BackgroundKoliada, A., Syzenko, G., Moseiko, V., Budovska, L., Puchkov, K., Perederiy, V., Gavalko, Y., Dorofeyev, A., Romanenko, M., Tkach, S., et al. (2017) · BMC Microbiology · doi:10.1186/s12866-017-1027-1 · Cited by 1,000 · cited 1×
“Firmicutes and Bacteroidetes compose the vast majority of the bacterial species residing in the human gastrointestinal tract, and as such the relative ratio between Firmicutes to Bacteroidetes (F/B) has been used as a measure of gut microbiota health (Koliada et al., 2017).”
MethodExercise alters gut microbiota composition and function in lean and obese humans
ALLEN, J. M., MAILING, L. J., NIEMIRO, G. M., MOORE, R., COOK, M. D., WHITE, B. A., HOLSCHER, H. D., & WOODS, J. A. (2018) · Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise · doi:10.1249/mss.0000000000001495 · Cited by 820 · cited 5×
“The observed relationship between cardiorespiratory fitness and gut microbiota composition supports previous research suggesting that exercise training may promote an increase in bacterial strains in the Firmicutes phylum (Allen et al., 2017; Estaki et al., 2016).”
BackgroundResultInfluentialInteractions Between Gut Microbiota and Host Metabolism Predisposing to Obesity and Diabetes
Musso, G., Gambino, R., & Cassader, M. (2011) · Annual Review of Medicine · doi:10.1146/annurev-med-012510-175505 · Cited by 598 · cited 2×
“As obesity is strongly associated with metabolic derangement, the relationship between BMI and F/B observed by Ley et al. may be related to dysfunctional interactions between gut microbiota and bioenergetic pathways (Musso et al., 2011).”
BackgroundEvans, C. C., LePard, K. J., Kwak, J. W., Stancukas, M. C., Laskowski, S., Dougherty, J., Moulton, L., Glawe, A., Wang, Y., Leone, V., et al. (2014) · PLoS ONE · doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0092193 · Cited by 587 · cited 2×
“Recent findings suggest a dynamic relationship between gut microbiota and physical activity levels (Allen et al., 2017; Choi et al., 2013; Clarke et al., 2014; Estaki et al., 2016; Evans et al., 2014; Lambert et al., 2015; Petersen et al., 2017; Petriz et al., 2014; Queipo-Ortuno et al., 2013), with professional athle…”
Background
Cited by
Sorted by citations
Items 101–131 of 131
Precision Nutrition in Exercise and Sports Performance
Cooper, C., & Heber, D. (2023) · Elsevier eBooks · doi:10.1016/b978-0-443-15315-0.00004-3 · Cited by 2
Mancini, A., Vitucci, D., Lasorsa, V. A., Lupo, C., Brustio, P. R., Capasso, M., Orrù, S., Rainoldi, A., Schena, F. F., & Buono, P. (2024) · Frontiers in Nutrition · doi:10.3389/fnut.2024.1465707 · Cited by 2
Wood, A., Glynn, T. K., & Cahalin, L. P. (2022) · Journal of Womenʼs Health Physical Therapy · doi:10.1097/jwh.0000000000000249 · Cited by 2
Microbiota intestinale ed esercizio fisico: nuova possibile area di intervento?
Cella, V., Migliaccio, S., & Paoli, A. (2020) · L Endocrinologo · doi:10.1007/s40619-020-00777-1 · Cited by 2
Sim, D.-H., Lee, D.-H., Lee, J., & Hong, K. (2024) · Exercise Science · doi:10.15857/ksep.2024.00577 · Cited by 1
Exercise and Gut Microbiome: Trends and Advances in Research Methods
Baek, K., Ahn, K., Ahn, Y. J., Xiang, Y.-Y., & Kim, J. (2022) · Exercise Science · doi:10.15857/ksep.2022.00479 · Cited by 2
“관련된 연구에서 인간 장내 미생물 총(microbiota)의 두 가지 주요 문인 Bacteriodetesd와 Firmicutes의 비율 이 높을수록 최대산소섭취량이 높은 것으로 확인되었다[49].”
Coadaptation mechanism of the gut microbiota and human organism to physical loading
Куйбіда, В., Коханець, П., & Lopatynska, V. V. (2023) · Regulatory Mechanisms in Biosystems · doi:10.15421/022332 · Cited by 1
Fu, P., Duan, X., Zhang, Y., Dou, X., & Gong, L. (2024) · Metabolites · doi:10.3390/metabo14100527 · Cited by 1
Physical Activity Induced Alterations of Gut Microbiota in Humans: A Systematic ReviewPreprint
Dziewiecka, H., Buttar, H. S., Kasperska, A., Ostapiuk–Karolczuk, J., Domagalska, M., Cichoń-Woźniak, J., & Skarpańska-Stejnborn, A. (2022) · Research Square · doi:10.21203/rs.3.rs-1533424/v1 · Cited by 1
Microbiome Features Associated with Performance Measures in Non-Athletic and Athletic IndividualsPreprint
Humińska‐Lisowska, K., Zielińska, K., Mieszkowski, J., Michałowska‐Sawczyn, M., Cięszczyk, P., Łabaj, P. P., Wasąg, B., Frączek, B., Grzywacz, A., Kochanowicz, A., et al. (2023) · bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory) · doi:10.1101/2023.06.10.544446 · Cited by 1
Watanabe, C., Kobiki, N., Aoki, T., Kremenik, M. J., Nagano, T., Yano, H., & Oyanagi, E. (2020) · The Journal of Physical Fitness and Sports Medicine · doi:10.7600/jpfsm.9.205
遺稿 中国人系社会と孫文思想 (追悼特集 吉田實先生を偲んで)
吉田, 實. (2011)
Gut microbiota related to nutrition and physical activity: an integrative review
Campos, L. F. (2021) · International Journal of Nutrology · doi:10.54448/ijn22102
“Short-chain fatty acids (two to six carbons) serve as a source of energy for various tissues, reducing inflammation, improving insulin sensitivity, and changing the morphology of the central nervous system [20].”
BackgroundSports nutrology and gut microbiota
Diniz, L. V. L. (2023) · International Journal of Nutrology · doi:10.54448/ijn23109 · Cited by 1
Cai, Y., zhang, K., Shen, S., Duan, J., Li, M., Yuan, H., Huang, Y., & Gao, X. (2023) · Research Square · doi:10.21203/rs.3.rs-3103141/v1
The Effect of Various Types of Exercise on Gut Microbiota: A Systematic Review
Rabiee, M., & Mousavi, M. S. (2023) · International journal of Sport Studies for Health · doi:10.5812/intjssh-141680
Role of the gut microbiota in aging and maintenance of active longevity. Part 2
Константиновна, Р. А., Ashikhmin, Y. I., Ratnikov, V. A., Grudina, М., & Dikur, O. (2024) · Vrach · doi:10.29296/25877305-2024-02-03
Microbiota and Exercise Interaction
Eken, B. F., & Dogan, M. (2023) · doi:10.69860/nobel.9786053359050.7
Maillot, J., Depiesse, F., & Meinadier, E. (2022) · Elsevier eBooks · doi:10.1016/b978-2-294-77582-6.00006-9
Obesity, gut bacteria, and the epigenetic control of metabolic disease
Guidi, L., Martínez‐Téllez, B., & Santos, C. P. O. (2024) · Elsevier eBooks · doi:10.1016/b978-0-443-18979-1.00013-7
Xue, Y., Yuan, M., Sun, Z., Liu, X., Liang, M., & Wang, X. (2025) · SSRN Electronic Journal · doi:10.2139/ssrn.5168087
Athletes looking for a competitive edge may find it within their gut microbiome
Damman, C. J. (2024) · The Conversation · doi:10.64628/aai.snqptwpgm
So, B., Jang, J., Park, J., Park, Y.-M., Kwak, D., Kim, K., Lee, H., & Kang, C. (2025) · Exercise Science · doi:10.15857/ksep.2025.00570
Aya, V., Jiménez, P., Muñoz, E., & Ramírez, J. D. (2024) · Figshare · doi:10.6084/m9.figshare.26596778
Aya, V., Jiménez, P., Muñoz, E., & Ramírez, J. D. (2024) · Figshare · doi:10.6084/m9.figshare.26596781
Additional file 1 of Effects of altitude on human oral microbes
Liu, F., Liang, T., Zhang, Z., Liu, L., Li, J., Dong, W., Zhang, H., Bai, S., Ma, L., & Kang, L. (2021) · Figshare · doi:10.6084/m9.figshare.14175919
Interaction of physical activity and gut-brain axis: relevance for obesity
López-Sánchez, L., Papalini, S., Tromp, J., Albayay, J., & Kohn, N. (2026) · Reviews in Endocrine and Metabolic Disorders · doi:10.1007/s11154-026-10044-7
Zhong, J., Wijaya, L., Sane, S., Atreya, A., Zhang, C., & Gopalan, V. (2026) · Research Square · doi:10.21203/rs.3.rs-10030154/v1
Exercise-driven microbiome changes regulate host immunity
Phelps, C. M., & Meisel, M. (2026) · Trends in Immunology · doi:10.1016/j.it.2026.08.001 · Cited by 1
The Importance of Microbiota in Sports Nutrition
Ulus, C. A., & Keskin, D. Ö. Y. (2026) · Herkes için Spor ve Rekreasyon Dergisi · doi:10.56639/jsar.1994973
Metadata
- Authors
- Durk, R. P., Castillo, E., Márquez-Magaña, L., Grosicki, G. J., Bolter, N. D., Lee, C. M., & Bagley, J. R.
- Affiliations
- San Francisco State University (US)
- Tufts University (US)
- Corresponding author
- Bagley, James R.
- Venue
- International Journal of Sport Nutrition and Exercise Metabolism
- Publisher
- Human Kinetics
- Published
- 2019-05-01
- Volume
- 29
- Issue
- 3
- Pages
- 249-253
- ISSN
- 1526-484X (ISSN-L)
- 1543-2742
- PMC
- PMC6487229
- OpenAlex
- W2831365105
- Cited by
- 131
- References
- 24
- Citations by year
- 2026: 4 · 2025: 9 · 2024: 23 · 2023: 23 · 2022: 27 · 2021: 23 · 2020: 16 · 2019: 5
- FWCI
- 3.91
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- green
- www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- Locations
- International Journal of Sport Nutrition and Exercise Metabolism (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
- Funders
- National Institute of General Medical Sciences (UL1GM118985)
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Gut microbiota and health
- Health Sciences › Dentistry › Periodontics › Oral microbiology and periodontitis research
- Life Sciences › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Food Science › Probiotics and Fermented Foods
- Keywords
- gut microbiota, cardiorespiratory fitness, VO2max, Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes ratio, physical activity, young adults, dietary intake, anthropometric variables, 16S rRNA gene quantification
- MeSH terms
- Bacillota, Gastrointestinal Microbiome, Cardiorespiratory Fitness, Adult, Diet, Female, Humans, Male, Oxygen Consumption, Exercise, Bacteroidetes, Gastrointestinal Tract, Young Adult
About these checks
Registry, retraction, Cites and statistics results are computed, not judged, with one exception: a printed reference that no index lists is read once by a model before it counts as a citation error. Claims are extracted by a model and kept only when their quote appears verbatim in the text; each cited source is then checked, with a model’s help, for whether it says what the claim relies on. Those verdicts can be wrong — read the claim’s quote and the cited source before relying on one.
Statistics and arithmetic are recomputed, not judged.
Confidence bands are shown only for fields calibrated on our annotated test set. None is calibrated yet, so no band is shown.
What counts as a claim ›How we measure confidence ›How we check this ›
Are you an author, or do you see a problem with this page? Request a review
