Exercising may encourage beneficial bacteria to thrive in your intestines, while inactivity could do the reverse, according to a study from University College Cork, in Ireland. The findings suggest that, in addition to other benefits, regular exercise may influence weight and health by altering the types of organisms that live inside your gut.
Interestingly, the research was carried out on the Irish rugby team. “We chose professional athletes as a study group, because we wanted to be sure not to miss any effect of exercise and needed a group who were safely performing at the extremes of human endeavour,” said Dr Fergus Shanahan, director of the Alimentary Pharmabiotic Centre at the University.
During the study, the team exercised strenuously for several hours per day, and was compared to a group that undertook light exercise occasionally and another group that was sedentary and classified as overweight. Tests showed that the athletes had the most diverse microbiomes (range of gut bacteria) and higher populations of a type of bacteria known as Akkermansiaceae, which have been linked to lower rates of obesity and inflammation. Both control groups had correspondingly lower numbers of Akkermansiaceae and elevated blood markers for inflammation. According to Dr Shanahan, more research is needed to see if diet plays a part, but it seems likely that regular exercise makes your gut more welcoming to the right type of bacteria.