Exercise perspective: Benefits and mechanisms of gut microbiota on the body

Abstract

Gut microbiota refers to the vast and diverse community of microorganisms residing in the intestines. Factors such as genetics, environmental influences (e.g., exercise, diet), and early life experiences (e.g., infant feeding methods) can all affect the ecological balance of gut microbiota within the body. Dysbiosis of the gut microbiota is associated with extra-intestinal diseases such as Parkinson's syndrome, osteoporosis, and autoimmune diseases, suggesting that disturbances in gut microbiota may be one of the causes of these diseases. Exercise benefits various diseases, with gut microbiota playing a role in regulating the nervous, musculoskeletal, and immune systems. Gut microbiota can impact the body's health status through the gut-brain axis, gut-muscle axis, and immune pathways. Moderate-intensity aerobic exercise can increase the quantity of gut microbiota and change microbial abundance, although short-term exercise does not significantly affect the alpha diversity of the microbiota. Resistance exercise also does not have a significant regulatory effect on gut microbiota.

Keywords: dysbiosis; ecological balance; exercise; gut microbiota; metabolites.

图1

肠道菌群与机体交流途径 Figure 1 Gut microbiota communicates with the body PYY: Peptide YY; 5-HT: 5-hydroxytryptamine; CNS: Central nervous system; ANS: Autonomic nervous system; ENS: Enteric nervous system; HPA: Hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal; ECC: Enterochromaffin cell; LPS: Lipopolysaccharides; TLR4: Toll-like receptor 4; TLR5: Toll-like receptor 5; NF-κB: Nuclear factor kappa-B; mTOR: Mammalian target of rapamycin; AMPK: Adenosine 5-monophosphate-activated protein kinase; LBP: LPS binding protein.

图2

运动调控肠道菌群的机制 Figure 2 Mechanisms of exercise regulating gut microbiota Akk: Akkermansia muciniphila; IL-6: Interleukin-6; VO₂ peak: Peak oxygen uptake; LPS: Lipopolysaccharides; SCFA: Short-chain fatty acid; TJP: Tight junction protein.