Probiotics, gut microbiota and physical activity: A close relationship

Background: The topic of this review is the study of the gut microbiota (GM), and the use of probiotics, especially in humans, as a new frontier in the field of prevention and health in general. The beneficial effects and functions performed by probiotics in the GM are increasingly at the centre of both scientific, medical, and pharmaceutical interest. It is now known that diet and probiotics can modify the GM, although in these situations there is a need for greater and more in-depth research regarding the methods and timing of treatment. However, the relationship between physical activity, GM, and probiotics is still largely unclear, as regards certain mechanisms between physical exercise and probiotics in humans. Discussion: In this study, we tried to demonstrate whether and how physical exercise was able to alter the composition of the microbiota and how probiotics can facilitate it. Therefore, alteration of the microbiota was considered in terms of both diversity and composition. Conclusions: The ones examined propose vastly different physical exercises, both in terms of timing and type of intervention itself, and the use of probiotics.