Sports nutrology and gut microbiota

Abstract

Introduction: Many of the established positive health benefits of exercise have been documented by historic discoveries in the field of exercise physiology. Regular physical training associated with nutritional health has broad health benefits for the gut microbiota, acting positively on almost all organ systems of the body. Objective: It was to analyze the main metabolic pathways modulated by nutrients, gut microbiota, and physical exercise in muscle regeneration and sports performance. Methods: The present study followed a systematic review model (PRISMA). The literary search process was carried out from July to September 2022 and was developed based on Scopus, PubMed, Science Direct, Scielo, and Google Scholar, with scientific articles from 2004 to 2022. The low quality of evidence was attributed to case reports, editorials, and brief communications, according to the GRADE instrument. The risk of bias was analyzed according to the Cochrane instrument. Results and Conclusion: We found 132 studies that underwent eligibility analysis, and then 31 of the 52 total studies were selected for this systematic review. According to the GRADE instrument, most studies showed homogeneity in their results, with I2 =98.9% >50%. The Funnel Plot showed a symmetrical behavior, not suggesting a significant risk of bias in studies with a smaller sample size. A healthy gut microbiota and a positive interaction with the immune system, promoted by diligent nutrological care, can be crucial for the muscle-gut axis and can influence the maintenance of muscle mass and its functionality in athletes. However, dysbiosis resulting from a negative interaction with the immune system can influence muscle wasting disorders. These changes can promote systemic inflammation, with overproduction of the pro-inflammatory cytokines TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6. Future studies should clarify whether gut microbiota dysbiosis and nutrient depletion are pathophysiologically associated with muscle wasting disorders and whether exercise can positively influence this supposed gut-muscle axis.