Available online 9 September 2022

Endurance exercise capacity may be influenced by gut microbiota.

Veillonella atypica and lactic acid bacteria may affect lactate metabolism.

Short-chain fatty acids may modulate substrate metabolism in skeletal muscle.

Prebiotics, probiotics, and postbiotics could have ergogenic potential.

More human research is needed to understand the gut microbiota–exercise connection.

The gut microbiota refers to the collection of trillions of intestinal microorganisms that modulate central aspects of health and disease through influential effects on host physiology. Recently, a connection has been made between the gut microbiota and exercise. Initial investigations demonstrated the beneficial effects of exercise on the gut microbiota, with cross-sectional studies revealing positive correlations between exercise-associated states and healthy gut microbiota and exercise interventions showing post-intervention increases in the abundance of beneficial bacterial taxa. More recent investigations have focused on exploring the reverse relationship: the influence of the gut microbiota on exercise performance. Murine investigations have revealed that certain bacterial taxa may enhance endurance exercise performance by augmenting various aspects of lactate metabolism. Further, short-chain fatty acids (SCFA)—which modulate metabolism at various organ sites, including within skeletal muscle—have been shown to enhance endurance exercise capacity in mice. This review highlights what is currently known about the connection between the gut microbiota and exercise, with a particular focus on the ergogenic potential of the gut microbiota and how it may be leveraged to enhance endurance exercise performance.

Exercise performance

Gut microbiota

Short-chain fatty acids

© 2022 Published by Elsevier B.V. on behalf of Shanghai University of Sport.