The gut microbiota characteristics of athletes
- VernacularTitle:运动员的肠道菌群特征
- Author:
Qiuping ZHANG
1
;
Qian XU
1
;
Huajun TIAN
1
;
Yudan CHU
1
;
Junliang HE
1
;
Guoqiang MA
1
;
Jun QIU
1
Author Information
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- Keywords: gut microbiota; athlete; exercise; training; diet; intestinal microorganism; review
- From: Chinese Journal of Tissue Engineering Research 2025;29(14):3051-3060
- CountryChina
- Language:Chinese
- Abstract: BACKGROUND:Understanding the characteristics and influencing factors of the gut microbiota in athletes can help determine the optimal gut microbial composition for relevant sport events.Further investigation in this area could provide important insights for improving athletic performance and recovery as well as developing personalized nutrition prescriptions.OBJECTIVE:To summarize the characteristics of gut microbiota in athletes,and to elucidate the important factors influencing the gut microbiota characteristics of athletes from the perspectives of exercise training and dietary intake.METHODS:A literature search was conducted using the PubMed,ScienceDirect,CNKI,WanFang and VIP databases for publications from 2004 to 2024.The search terms included"microbiota,microbiome,athlete,exercise,training,diet,nutrition,dietary fiber,protein,ketogenic,fat"in English and Chinese.After excluding studies of poor quality and irrelevant content,a total of 65 articles were included for review and analysis.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1)The gut microbiota of elite athletes differs from that of the general population,characterized by increased α-diversity,elevated Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes ratio,increased abundance of beneficial bacteria,and enrichment of functional pathways contributing to athletic performance.(2)The type of sport and training load are closely related to the species structure and functional expression of the gut microbiota in athletes.(3)The bidirectional communication between the host and gut microbiota mediated by metabolites is an important mechanism by which exercise influences the gut microbiota.(4)Phase training typically induces adaptive changes in the gut microbiota,and alterations in the structure or function of the microbiota have lasting effects.(5)The type,quantity,and combination of macronutrients intake can significantly influence the structure and function of the gut microbiota,and interact synergistically or antagonistically with exercise training.(6)In the future,it is important to continue the exploration of the gut microbiota in athletes,clarify causal relationships,and establish new targets for exercise training interventions.
