Gut Microbiota and Exercise: Probiotics to Modify the Composition and Roles of the Gut Microbiota in the Context of 3P Medicine.

2025-05-03
Microbial ecology 88(1)

PubMed: 40319213
DOI: 10.1007/s00248-025-02529-w

Study Design

Type: Review
Methods: This review explores the mechanisms through which probiotics may enhance exercise performance, mitigate exercise-induced fatigue, and improve physiological adaptation via modulation of inflammation, oxidative stress, and metabolic signaling pathways.

Prolonged and intense physical activity can trigger stress response mechanisms across various physiological systems-including the cardiovascular, respiratory, gastrointestinal, musculoskeletal, and neuroendocrine systems-disrupting energy metabolism, immune function, redox balance, and hormonal regulation. Critically, when not accompanied by adequate recovery, such exertion may impair rather than enhance athletic performance. In parallel, there has been growing interest in probiotics as natural, safe, and accessible dietary supplements with the potential to support performance and recovery. Emerging evidence highlights the pivotal role of the gut microbiome in mediating communication along the gut-brain and gut-muscle axes, thereby influencing not only metabolic and immune functions but also neuromuscular adaptation and fatigue resistance. This review explores the mechanisms through which probiotics may enhance exercise performance, mitigate exercise-induced fatigue, and improve physiological adaptation via modulation of inflammation, oxidative stress, and metabolic signaling pathways. Framed within the context of predictive, preventive, and personalized medicine (3P medicine), this paper emphasizes the diagnostic and therapeutic potential of personalized probiotic strategies in optimizing athletic performance through the qualitative and quantitative assessment of microbiota and host responses.

Research Insights

Supplement	Dose	Health Outcome	Effect Type	Effect Size	Source
Lactobacillus salivarius UCC118	—	Improved Exercise Performance	Beneficial	Moderate	View source Emerging evidence highlights the pivotal role of the gut microbiome in mediating communication along the gut-brain and gut-muscle axes, thereby influencing not only metabolic and immune functions but also neuromuscular adaptation and fatigue resistance. This review explores the mechanisms through which probiotics may enhance exercise performance, mitigate exercise-induced fatigue, and improve physiological adaptation
Lactobacillus salivarius UCC118	—	Reduced Fatigue	Beneficial	Small	View source This review explores the mechanisms through which probiotics may enhance exercise performance, mitigate exercise-induced fatigue, and improve physiological adaptation via modulation of inflammation, oxidative stress, and metabolic signaling pathways.