A new study published in PLOS One has revealed that physical activity directly influences gut microbiota, which in turn affects athletic endurance. Researchers compared the microbiome of 61 young people aged 20–25: some exercised regularly, while others led a sedentary lifestyle.
The findings showed that the gut microbiota of active participants was significantly more diverse. Among the bacteria that were more abundant in those who trained were beneficial species involved in producing short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs)—compounds that enhance energy metabolism, reduce inflammation, and support gut health. For instance, athletes had higher levels of bacteria from the Veillonella genus, which process lactic acid generated during exercise and convert it into useful metabolites.
To test whether bacterial composition impacts physical fitness, the scientists conducted an experiment on mice. Rodents were given gut bacteria transplants from either active or sedentary humans. Mice that received microbiota from active donors ran 1.7 times farther than those that received bacteria from sedentary participants.
The researchers also identified 20 bacterial genera and 15 species directly linked to physical activity levels, independent of diet. Using this data, they developed a model capable of predicting with high accuracy (AUC 0.92–0.94) whether a person exercises, based solely on their gut microbiome composition.
The authors emphasize that their findings open up new possibilities for enhancing athletic performance—potentially leading to probiotics that boost endurance in the future. However, they acknowledge the study’s limitations: it was conducted exclusively on men, and further experiments considering diet and other factors are needed for definitive conclusions.
In related news, the International Academy of Astronautics has updated guidelines for scientists in the event they detect a signal from extraterrestrials. Specialists are now advised to refrain from responding until an international discussion takes place, including within the United Nations. This marks the first major revision of protocols in 15 years.
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