The performance gut: a key to optimizing performance in high-level athletes: a systematic scoping review
Abstract
Introduction: The gut microbiome represents a key ecosystem influencing athletic performance through energy metabolism modulation, inflammatory response regulation, and recovery optimization in high-level athletes. However, the relationship between performance and gut microbiome composition in high-level athletes remains poorly understood.
Objectives: This systematic scoping review aims to map the current evidence on the relationship between training and gut microbiome in high-level athletes, identify specific patterns in microbial response to different training and sports, analyse the effects of nutritional interventions and highlight some methodological and knowledge gaps in the current literature.
Methodology: Following the PRISMA-ScR framework, a systematic search was conducted on PubMed, Scopus and Web of Science (2015-2025). Studies were selected according to defined criteria, including a population of high-level athletes, interventions through training and/or nutritional protocols and based on outcomes related to performance and health.
Results: Nineteen studies met the inclusion criteria, comprising 12 experimental studies and 7 systematic/narrative reviews. The analysis of the studies revealed possible sport-specific patterns in microbiome modulation, with distinctive alterations in metabolic profiles, significant correlations between microbial stability and athletic performance, synergistic effects between training and probiotic supplementation and significant…
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