ArticleMicrobiome2017
Community characteristics of the gut microbiomes of competitive cyclists.
Article in Microbiome, 2017. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 220 papers, 10 of them syntheses that pooled it.
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Who cites it
220 citing papers in PubMed, 10 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 384 citations in OpenAlex.
- The performance gut: a key to optimizing performance in high-level athletes: a systematic scoping review.Frontiers in sports and active living · 2025Pooled it
- Physical activity, sedentary behavior and microbiome: A systematic review and meta-analysis.Journal of science and medicine in sport · 2024Pooled it
- Roles of the gut microbiome in weight management.Nature reviews. Microbiology · 2023Pooled it
- Effects of exercise and physical activity on gut microbiota composition and function in older adults: a systematic review.BMC geriatrics · 2023Pooled it
- Effect of Intensity and Duration of Exercise on Gut Microbiota in Humans: A Systematic Review.International journal of environmental research and public health · 2022Pooled it
- Investigation of the Ecological Link between Recurrent Microbial Human Gut Communities and Physical Activity.Microbiology spectrum · 2022Pooled it
- Systematic Review of the Effects of Exercise and Physical Activity on the Gut Microbiome of Older Adults.Nutrients · 2022Pooled it
- A systematic review: Role of dietary supplements on markers of exercise-associated gut damage and permeability.PloS one · 2022Pooled it
- Association between physical activity and changes in intestinal microbiota composition: A systematic review.PloS one · 2021Pooled it
- Influence of Exercise on the Human Gut Microbiota of Healthy Adults: A Systematic Review.Clinical and translational gastroenterology · 2020Pooled it
- Signatures in the gut microbiome of German elite athletes: insights from a matched-subgroup analysis.mSystems · 2026Trial
- Faecal Bacterial and Short-Chain Fatty Acid Profiles in Response to 48 h FODMAP Intervention Prior to Endurance Exercise.Nutrients · 2026Trial
- Effects of Kefir Consumption on Gut Microbiota and Athletic Performance in Professional Female Soccer Players: A Randomized Controlled Trial.Nutrients · 2025Trial
- Eight Weeks ofNutrients · 2023Trial
- Short-term physical exercise impacts on the human holobiont obtained by a randomised intervention study.BMC microbiology · 2021Trial
- The upper-airway microbiota and loss of asthma control among asthmatic children.Nature communications · 2019Trial
- Effect ofNutrients · 2019Trial
- Prebiotics in sport and exercise: current evidence, practical applications, and methodological considerations.Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition · 2026Review
- Is There a Relationship Between the Gut Microbiome and the Functional Capabilities of Skeletal Muscle? A Narrative Review.Nutrients · 2026Review
- Gut Microbiota and Dietary Intake Across Training Phases in Competitive Long-Distance Runners: An Exploratory Longitudinal Study.Nutrients · 2026Article
160 more citing papers are in PubMed but not listed here.
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
8 authors at 2 institutions in 2 countries.
Funding
Abstract
backgroundChanges in diet and exercise can alter the gut microbiome of humans and mice; however, few studies to date have assessed the microbiomes of highly fit athletes. In this pilot study, we used metagenomic whole genome shotgun (mWGS) and metatranscriptomic (RNA-Seq) sequencing to show what organisms are both present and active in the gut microbiomes of both professional and amateur level competitive cyclists and to determine if any significant differences exist between these two groups.
resultsUsing mWGS sequencing data, we showed that the gut microbiomes of 33 cyclists split into three taxonomic clusters, characterized by either high Prevotella, high Bacteroides or a mix of many genera including Bacteroides, Prevotella, Eubacterium, Ruminococcus, and Akkermansia. While no significant correlations could be found between taxonomic cluster and being either a professional or amateur level cyclist, high abundance of the genus Prevotella (≥2.5%) was significantly correlated with time reported exercising during an average week. Increased abundance of Prevotella was correlated with a number of amino acid and carbohydrate metabolism pathways, including branched chain amino acid metabolism. Further analysis of the metatranscriptome revealed significant taxonomic differences when compared to the metagenome. There was increased abundance of Methanobrevibacter smithii transcripts in a number of professional cyclists in comparison to amateur cyclists and this archaeon had upregulation of genes involved in the production of methane. Furthermore, when methane metabolism was upregulated, there was similar upregulation of energy and carbohydrate metabolism pathways.
conclusionsThese results provide a framework for common constituents of the gut community in individuals who follow an exercise-rich lifestyle. These data also suggest how certain organisms such as M. smithii may beneficially influence the metabolic efficiency of the gut community in professional cyclists due to synergistic metabolic cross-feeding events.
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Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.