Abstract

Gut microbiota plays an important role in the modulation of physiological processes associated with the digestion of nutrients, immune system and control of energy homeostasis. Changes in gut microbiota composition have been associated notably with obesity, diabetes, and inflammatory diseases. Diet is one of the major factors capable of modulating the intestinal microbiota composition. In addition, the literature has shown that exercise can affect the gut microbiota composition and modulate the balance between the interaction of host and beneficial microbiota. Physical exercise improves the diversity and relative amounts of bacterial species under different nutritional contexts. However, the impact of exercise associated or not with dietary changes on the gastrointestinal environment and consequences for gut health remain poorly understood. Some proposals regarding the biological mechanisms possibly involved highlight the short chain fatty acid production and alteration in intestinal pH as main forms by which exercise may affect gut microbiota composition. Thus, the aim of the present review is to present an overview of the effects of physical exercise associated with diet on the characteristics of the intestinal microbiota.

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