Training harder could be rewiring your gut bacteria

"Based on previous research, it appears that athletes have a different gut microbiota when compared with the general population. This includes greater total short chain fatty acid concentrations, alpha diversity, an increased abundance of some bacteria and a lower abundance of others."

"In the new research, training load itself was associated with measurable shifts in gut health markers. Athletes showed differences in short-chain fatty acid levels and in the presence of certain bacterial species depending on how hard they were training."

"While diet likely plays a role in these differences, Ms. Charlesson noted that fitness indicators such as oxygen uptake have also been linked to variations in the microbiome."

Research from Edith Cowan University reveals that training intensity directly influences gut microbiome composition in athletes. PhD candidate Bronwen Charlesson investigated how varying training loads affect gut health markers. Athletes demonstrate distinct microbial profiles compared to non-athletes, including higher short-chain fatty acid concentrations and different bacterial abundance patterns. Training load itself produces measurable shifts in gut health indicators, including changes in short-chain fatty acid levels and specific bacterial species presence. When training intensity decreases, diet quality often declines and digestion slows, triggering additional microbial changes. These microscopic alterations may influence athletic performance through mechanisms scientists are still investigating.

Read at ScienceDaily