Gut Microbiota Modulation to Enhance Exercise Performance and Recovery - Systematic Review
Background: Recent evidence suggests that the gut microbiota can influence host metabolism, immunity, and tissue repair—processes critical for exercise performance and recovery. Objective: To synthesise human research examining whether modulation of the gut microbiota—via probiotics, prebiotics, di...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń
2025-07-01
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| Series: | Quality in Sport |
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| Online Access: | https://apcz.umk.pl/QS/article/view/62420 |
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| _version_ | 1849319889892802560 |
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| author | Maksymilian Czarnota Weronika Ossowska Wiktoria Ösztreicher |
| author_facet | Maksymilian Czarnota Weronika Ossowska Wiktoria Ösztreicher |
| author_sort | Maksymilian Czarnota |
| collection | DOAJ |
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Background: Recent evidence suggests that the gut microbiota can influence host metabolism, immunity, and tissue repair—processes critical for exercise performance and recovery.
Objective: To synthesise human research examining whether modulation of the gut microbiota—via probiotics, prebiotics, diet, or training—affects physical capacity and post-exercise recovery.
Methods: A systematic search of PubMed and Scopus (until May 2025) identified peer-reviewed human studies involving gut-directed interventions or athlete comparisons reporting on physical performance, fatigue, immune response, or gut integrity. Thirty-five studies met inclusion criteria and were narratively analysed.
Results: Regular endurance or mixed training increased microbial diversity, SCFA-producing taxa, and gut-barrier integrity, while excessive loads reduced diversity and increased permeability. Multi-strain probiotic or synbiotic supplementation (≥10¹⁰ CFU/day, ≥4 weeks) improved endurance, reduced muscle-damage markers, and lowered illness incidence during intense training. Fibre-rich diets enhanced beneficial taxa and reduced inflammation.
Conclusions: Modulating the gut microbiota is a promising adjunct to training and nutrition strategies. Periodised probiotic use, sustained fibre intake, and personalised gut-health monitoring may optimise performance and recovery. Further well-designed, long-term trials are needed to clarify causality and refine recommendations.
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| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-c10fab5797564a0e8b3027f7cf5ef7b9 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2450-3118 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-07-01 |
| publisher | Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Quality in Sport |
| spelling | doaj-art-c10fab5797564a0e8b3027f7cf5ef7b92025-08-20T03:50:17ZengNicolaus Copernicus University in ToruńQuality in Sport2450-31182025-07-014310.12775/QS.2025.43.62420Gut Microbiota Modulation to Enhance Exercise Performance and Recovery - Systematic ReviewMaksymilian Czarnota0https://orcid.org/0009-0002-9322-4494Weronika Ossowska1https://orcid.org/0009-0002-4205-9572Wiktoria Ösztreicher 2https://orcid.org/0009-0000-6090-8369Polish Red Cross Maritime Hospital in Gdynia, 1 Powstania Styczniowego Street, 81-519 Gdynia, PolandPolish Red Cross Maritime Hospital in Gdynia, 1 Powstania Styczniowego Street, 81-519 Gdynia, PolandIndependent Public Clinical Hospital No. 1 named after Professor Tadeusz Sokołowski of the Pomeranian Medical University in Szczecin, Unii Lubelskiej 1 Street, 71-252 Szczecin, Poland Background: Recent evidence suggests that the gut microbiota can influence host metabolism, immunity, and tissue repair—processes critical for exercise performance and recovery. Objective: To synthesise human research examining whether modulation of the gut microbiota—via probiotics, prebiotics, diet, or training—affects physical capacity and post-exercise recovery. Methods: A systematic search of PubMed and Scopus (until May 2025) identified peer-reviewed human studies involving gut-directed interventions or athlete comparisons reporting on physical performance, fatigue, immune response, or gut integrity. Thirty-five studies met inclusion criteria and were narratively analysed. Results: Regular endurance or mixed training increased microbial diversity, SCFA-producing taxa, and gut-barrier integrity, while excessive loads reduced diversity and increased permeability. Multi-strain probiotic or synbiotic supplementation (≥10¹⁰ CFU/day, ≥4 weeks) improved endurance, reduced muscle-damage markers, and lowered illness incidence during intense training. Fibre-rich diets enhanced beneficial taxa and reduced inflammation. Conclusions: Modulating the gut microbiota is a promising adjunct to training and nutrition strategies. Periodised probiotic use, sustained fibre intake, and personalised gut-health monitoring may optimise performance and recovery. Further well-designed, long-term trials are needed to clarify causality and refine recommendations. https://apcz.umk.pl/QS/article/view/62420Gut microbiotaExercise performanceRecoveryProbioticsPrebioticsAthletes |
| spellingShingle | Maksymilian Czarnota Weronika Ossowska Wiktoria Ösztreicher Gut Microbiota Modulation to Enhance Exercise Performance and Recovery - Systematic Review Quality in Sport Gut microbiota Exercise performance Recovery Probiotics Prebiotics Athletes |
| title | Gut Microbiota Modulation to Enhance Exercise Performance and Recovery - Systematic Review |
| title_full | Gut Microbiota Modulation to Enhance Exercise Performance and Recovery - Systematic Review |
| title_fullStr | Gut Microbiota Modulation to Enhance Exercise Performance and Recovery - Systematic Review |
| title_full_unstemmed | Gut Microbiota Modulation to Enhance Exercise Performance and Recovery - Systematic Review |
| title_short | Gut Microbiota Modulation to Enhance Exercise Performance and Recovery - Systematic Review |
| title_sort | gut microbiota modulation to enhance exercise performance and recovery systematic review |
| topic | Gut microbiota Exercise performance Recovery Probiotics Prebiotics Athletes |
| url | https://apcz.umk.pl/QS/article/view/62420 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT maksymilianczarnota gutmicrobiotamodulationtoenhanceexerciseperformanceandrecoverysystematicreview AT weronikaossowska gutmicrobiotamodulationtoenhanceexerciseperformanceandrecoverysystematicreview AT wiktoriaosztreicher gutmicrobiotamodulationtoenhanceexerciseperformanceandrecoverysystematicreview |