Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 5, 2026
05:41
Therapeutic Evaluation of Fecal Microbiota Transplantation in an Interleukin 10-Deficient Mouse Model
Published on: April 6, 2022
From Mechanisms to Practice: Gut Microbiome-Based Strategies for Supporting Recovery in Elite Athletes
Junior Carlone1,2,3, Paolo Sgrò2, Attilio Parisi2
1Department of Neurosciences, Biomedicine and Movement, University of Verona, 37134 Verona, Italy.
Nutrients
|July 28, 2026
Summary
Optimizing the gut microbiota can enhance athletic recovery by reducing inflammation and improving sleep. Athletes with specific microbial profiles may benefit from targeted probiotics and nutritional strategies for improved performance.
Area of Science:
- Sports Medicine
- Microbiology
- Human Physiology
Background:
- Gut microbiota influences athletic recovery through anti-inflammatory and biosynthetic pathways.
- Athletes exhibit unique microbial compositions linked to metabolic demands.
- The gut-brain axis plays a role in modulating recovery processes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the mechanisms connecting gut microbiota to athletic recovery.
- To evaluate the evidence for microbiota interventions in sports medicine.
- To identify potential applications for optimizing athletic recovery.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of studies on gut microbiota and athletic recovery.
- Analysis of microbial signatures in endurance and strength athletes.
- Evaluation of probiotic interventions in athletic populations.
Main Results:
- Athletes possess enhanced microbial biosynthetic potential for nutrients and metabolites.
- Short-chain fatty acids like butyrate show anti-inflammatory effects.
- Probiotic interventions improved inflammatory markers, oxidative stress, and sleep quality in athletes.
Conclusions:
- Gut microbiota modulation is a promising strategy for enhancing athletic recovery.
- Sport-specific probiotics and nutritional interventions require further validation.
- Standardized protocols and biomarkers are needed for microbiota-targeted interventions.
Related Concept Videos
01:21Microbiota Modulation by Antibiotics
Antibiotics have revolutionized modern medicine by saving countless lives from bacterial infections. However, their widespread use has inadvertently harmed the delicate balance of the human gut microbiota. The gut microbiota, a complex community of bacteria, archaea, viruses, and fungi, plays a vital role in regulating metabolism, immune responses, and maintaining intestinal health. Antibiotics, especially broad-spectrum types, disrupt this ecosystem by eradicating both harmful and beneficial...
01:18Dysbiosis of the Gut Microbiota
The human gut microbiome includes a diverse array of microbial species, including beneficial commensals and opportunistic pathogens, which interact to support host health. These microbes contribute to essential functions such as nutrient metabolism, immune system modulation, and maintenance of intestinal barrier integrity. However, disruptions to this equilibrium—referred to as dysbiosis—can have widespread physiological consequences.Dysbiosis is often characterized by reduced microbial...
01:22Gut-Brain Axis
The gut–brain axis is a bidirectional communication system that connects the gastrointestinal tract and the brain. This interaction is mediated through multiple pathways, including the vagus nerve, hormonal signals, immune responses, and chemical messengers produced by gut microbes.Microbial Contributions to Brain FunctionGut microbiota contributes significantly to brain function by producing neuroactive compounds. These include neuroactive compounds that influence neurotransmitters such as...
01:22Probiotics
Probiotics are live, non-pathogenic microorganisms that confer health benefits by modulating the gut microbiota. The human gastrointestinal tract harbors a complex microbial ecosystem, and the balance of this microbiota is crucial for digestive and systemic health. Among the most extensively studied and utilized probiotics are species formerly classified within the genera Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium. These organisms not only naturally colonize the human gut but are also consumed through...
01:18Functions of the Gut Microbiota
The gut microbiota includes trillions of microorganisms that colonize the human gastrointestinal tract, including bacteria, archaea, viruses, and fungi. This complex ecosystem plays a critical role in maintaining intestinal and systemic health. Most of these microbes inhabit the large intestine, establishing a relatively stable and diverse community that contributes to gut homeostasis through various metabolic, immunological, and protective mechanisms.Dominant bacterial phyla, such as...
01:30Inflammatory Bowel Disease III: Diagnostic Studies and Management I-Nutritional Therapy
Various diagnostic tests are employed in the diagnostic process for Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD), particularly to differentiate between Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis.
Diagnostic studies
A colonoscopy is the definitive screening test, distinguishing ulcerative colitis from other colon diseases with similar symptoms. During a colonoscopy test, inflamed mucosa with exudate ulcerations can be observed, and biopsies are taken to determine the histologic characteristics of the colonic...
Diagnostic studies
A colonoscopy is the definitive screening test, distinguishing ulcerative colitis from other colon diseases with similar symptoms. During a colonoscopy test, inflamed mucosa with exudate ulcerations can be observed, and biopsies are taken to determine the histologic characteristics of the colonic...