Effects of Athletic Nutritional Supplements on the Human Gut Microbiota: A Narrative Review

TL;DR

This review explores how common athletic supplements affect the gut microbiota, focusing on changes in bacterial diversity and metabolism.

Contribution

The paper provides a critical summary of recent evidence on how athletic nutritional supplements influence gut microbiota composition and function.

Findings

Athletic supplements can alter bacterial diversity and the abundance of specific gut taxa.

Supplements may influence bacterial metabolism through various molecular pathways.

Results are inconsistent, highlighting the need for more standardized research.

Abstract

The human gut microbiota constitutes the microbial ecosystem within the human gut. It consists of trillions of mostly prokaryotic microorganisms living in the gut lumen, which have an active metabolic role in the regulation of many host functions, including vitamin synthesis and energy extraction from indigestible fiber. Host diet is the main driver of gut microbial composition and metabolic output. Athletes and athletic individuals often supplement their diet with legal nutritional supplements to enhance performance, especially at the elite level. This review summarizes and critically comments on key evidence of the effects of the most common athletic nutritional supplements on the human gut microbiota, based on the most recent literature. We cover suggested changes in bacterial diversity or the relative abundance of specific bacterial taxa and effects of nutritional supplementation on bacterial metabolism. We focus on the molecular pathways involved, we discuss contrasting results and inconsistencies, and we note limitations and challenges in the field. We conclude with a summary of evidence, proposals, and future directions.

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