Does the Intestinal Microbiome Impact Athletic Performance?
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NUTRITION AND OBESITY (S MCCLAVE AND E OMER, SECTION EDITORS)
Does the Intestinal Microbiome Impact Athletic Performance? Melissa M. Crowson 1,2
&
Stephen A. McClave 3
# Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature 2020
Abstract Purpose of Review To analyze current research involving elite athletes and the gut microbiome, with the goal to expand knowledge of potential sports performance strategies and interventions. Recent Findings Most of the current research focuses on theoretical applications from microbiome research and known characteristics of performance, as few studies have actually been conducted in elite athletes. However, of the studies that have been conducted, the research is promising that dietary strategies may provide targeted interventions in the future. Summary The majority of sports nutrition takes an external approach to diet: manipulating macronutrient intake based on type of training and performance goals. However, shifting to an internal focus, prioritizing the health of the gut microbiome, could be a new frontier for a competitive edge in athletics. Keywords Microbiome . Microbiota . Gut barrier defenses . Immune dysregulation . Sports . Athletic performance . Elite athletes
Introduction The health of the gut, the status of gastrointestinal defenses, and even more importantly the content and make-up of the luminal microbiome may have a significant influence on athletes, helping to reduce chronic injury while at the same time enhancing performance. The microbial organ in the gut regulates host health by influencing more than 65% of the body’s immune tissue comprised within the gastrointestinal tract. Most components and mediators of the immune system are controlled directly or indirectly by the microbiota [1]. Microbes living in the gut influence metabolism, nutrient absorption, homeostasis, and immune function of the host, which can be reflected in an individual’s metabolic responses, development, and health of individual organ systems including the brain, bone, heart, and lungs. Although there is a genetic component to the make-up of an individual’s This article is part of the Topical Collection on Nutrition and Obesity * Melissa M. Crowson
1
University of Louisville, Louisville, KY, USA
2
University of Louisville Athletics - Sports Nutrition Department, Louisville, USA
3
Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition, University of Louisville School of Medicine, Louisville, KY, USA
microbiome, lifestyle and dietary habits, as well as exogenous exposures, exert a significant impact as well [2•, 3]. A healthy diet, rich in fiber and whole foods, stimulates growth of specific microbial genera, like Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus, and metabolites, like short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) that have a beneficial impact on health. These organisms and their metabolites could serve as a targeted therapy for athletes to improve metabolic, immune, and gut barrier function. Supplementation with probiotics and prebiotics exerts a similar effect. Prebiotics are indig
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