Association between physical activity and changes in intestinal microbiota composition: A systematic review.

<h4>Introduction</h4>The intestinal microbiota comprises bacteria, fungi, archaea, protists, helminths and viruses that symbiotically inhabit the digestive system. To date, research has provided limited data on the possible association between an active lifestyle and a healthy compositio...

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Main Authors: Viviana Aya, Alberto Flórez, Luis Perez, Juan David Ramírez
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Public Library of Science (PLoS) 2021-01-01
Series:PLoS ONE
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0247039
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author Viviana Aya
Alberto Flórez
Luis Perez
Juan David Ramírez
author_facet Viviana Aya
Alberto Flórez
Luis Perez
Juan David Ramírez
author_sort Viviana Aya
collection DOAJ
description <h4>Introduction</h4>The intestinal microbiota comprises bacteria, fungi, archaea, protists, helminths and viruses that symbiotically inhabit the digestive system. To date, research has provided limited data on the possible association between an active lifestyle and a healthy composition of human microbiota. This review was aimed to summarize the results of human studies comparing the microbiome of healthy individuals with different physical activity amounts.<h4>Methods</h4>We searched Medline/Ovid, NIH/PubMed, and Academic Search Complete between August-October 2020. Inclusion criteria comprised: (a) cross-sectional studies focused on comparing gut microbiome among subjects with different physical activity levels; (b) studies describing human gut microbiome responses to any type of exercise stimulus; (c) studies containing healthy adult women and men. We excluded studies containing diet modifications, probiotic or prebiotic consumption, as well as studies focused on diabetes, hypertension, cancer, hormonal dysfunction. Methodological quality and risk of bias for each study were assessed using the Risk Of Bias In Non-randomized Studies-of Interventions tool. The results from cross-sectional and longitudinal studies are shown independently.<h4>Results</h4>A total of 17 articles were eligible for inclusion: ten cross-sectional and seven longitudinal studies. Main outcomes vary significantly according to physical activity amounts in longitudinal studies. We identified discrete changes in diversity indexes and relative abundance of certain bacteria in active people.<h4>Conclusion</h4>As literature in this field is rapidly growing, it is important that studies incorporate diverse methods to evaluate other aspects related to active lifestyles such as sleep and dietary patterns. Exploration of other groups such as viruses, archaea and parasites may lead to a better understanding of gut microbiota adaptation to physical activity and sports and its potentially beneficial effects on host metabolism and endurance.
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spelling doaj.art-ddd2bbdc07d84add850ad2cc29591a1f2022-12-21T20:06:56ZengPublic Library of Science (PLoS)PLoS ONE1932-62032021-01-01162e024703910.1371/journal.pone.0247039Association between physical activity and changes in intestinal microbiota composition: A systematic review.Viviana AyaAlberto FlórezLuis PerezJuan David Ramírez<h4>Introduction</h4>The intestinal microbiota comprises bacteria, fungi, archaea, protists, helminths and viruses that symbiotically inhabit the digestive system. To date, research has provided limited data on the possible association between an active lifestyle and a healthy composition of human microbiota. This review was aimed to summarize the results of human studies comparing the microbiome of healthy individuals with different physical activity amounts.<h4>Methods</h4>We searched Medline/Ovid, NIH/PubMed, and Academic Search Complete between August-October 2020. Inclusion criteria comprised: (a) cross-sectional studies focused on comparing gut microbiome among subjects with different physical activity levels; (b) studies describing human gut microbiome responses to any type of exercise stimulus; (c) studies containing healthy adult women and men. We excluded studies containing diet modifications, probiotic or prebiotic consumption, as well as studies focused on diabetes, hypertension, cancer, hormonal dysfunction. Methodological quality and risk of bias for each study were assessed using the Risk Of Bias In Non-randomized Studies-of Interventions tool. The results from cross-sectional and longitudinal studies are shown independently.<h4>Results</h4>A total of 17 articles were eligible for inclusion: ten cross-sectional and seven longitudinal studies. Main outcomes vary significantly according to physical activity amounts in longitudinal studies. We identified discrete changes in diversity indexes and relative abundance of certain bacteria in active people.<h4>Conclusion</h4>As literature in this field is rapidly growing, it is important that studies incorporate diverse methods to evaluate other aspects related to active lifestyles such as sleep and dietary patterns. Exploration of other groups such as viruses, archaea and parasites may lead to a better understanding of gut microbiota adaptation to physical activity and sports and its potentially beneficial effects on host metabolism and endurance.https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0247039
spellingShingle Viviana Aya
Alberto Flórez
Luis Perez
Juan David Ramírez
Association between physical activity and changes in intestinal microbiota composition: A systematic review.
PLoS ONE
title Association between physical activity and changes in intestinal microbiota composition: A systematic review.
title_full Association between physical activity and changes in intestinal microbiota composition: A systematic review.
title_fullStr Association between physical activity and changes in intestinal microbiota composition: A systematic review.
title_full_unstemmed Association between physical activity and changes in intestinal microbiota composition: A systematic review.
title_short Association between physical activity and changes in intestinal microbiota composition: A systematic review.
title_sort association between physical activity and changes in intestinal microbiota composition a systematic review
url https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0247039
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