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Updated: Mar 26, 2026
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Murine Fecal Isolation and Microbiota Transplantation
Published on: May 26, 2023
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Exercise, fitness, and the gut
Owen Cronin1, Michael G Molloy, Fergus Shanahan
1aDepartment of Medicine, Cork University Hospital, WiltonbAPC Microbiome Institute, University College Cork, National University of Ireland, Cork, Ireland.
Current Opinion in Gastroenterology
|February 4, 2016
Summary
Regular exercise offers extensive benefits, potentially improving gut health through metabolic, immunological, neural, and microbial pathways. Further research is needed to establish physical activity guidelines for specific gastrointestinal conditions.
Area of Science:
- Gastroenterology
- Exercise Physiology
- Microbiome Research
Background:
- The link between exercise and gut symptoms is established.
- The positive impact of regular exercise on intestinal health and function is under-explored in scientific literature.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review current knowledge on exercise and gut health.
- To discuss recent studies, hypotheses, and reviews elucidating this complex relationship.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of recent, relevant, and innovative studies.
- Synthesis of existing knowledge and emerging hypotheses.
Main Results:
- Exercise provides extensive multiorgan benefits, extending to the gut.
- These benefits involve metabolic, immunological, neural, and microbial mechanisms.
- Exercise impacts gut health in both healthy individuals and those with gastrointestinal diseases.
Conclusions:
- Despite methodological challenges, the relationship between exercise and gut health warrants further investigation.
- Exercise holds potential for promoting gastrointestinal health.
- More research is needed to develop specific physical activity recommendations for gastrointestinal conditions.
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