Document Type
Peer-Reviewed Article
Publication Date
2022
Abstract
Recent discoveries of the purpose and potential of microbial interactions with humans have broad implications for our understanding of metabolism, immunity, the host–microbe genetic interactions. Bioavailability and bioaccessibility of phytonutrients in foods not only enrich microbial diversity in the lower human gastrointestinal tract (GIT) but also direct the functioning of the metagenome of the microbiota. Thus, healthy choices must include foods that contain nutrients that satisfy both the needs of humans and their microbes. Physical activity interventions at a moderate level of intensity have shown positive effects on metabolism and the microbiome, while intense training (>70% VO2max) reduces diversity in the short term. The microbiome of elite endurance athletes is a robust producer of short-chain fatty acids. A lifestyle lacking activity is associated with the development of chronic disease, and experimental conditions simulating weightlessness in humans demonstrate loss of muscle mass occurring in conjunction with a decline in gut short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) production and the microbes that produce them. This review summarizes evidence addressing the relationship between the intestinal microbiome, diet, and physical activity. Data from the studies reviewed suggest that food choices and physical fitness in developed countries promote a resource “curse” dilemma for the microbiome and our health.
DOI
10.3390/ijerph19148361
Recommended Citation
Grace-Farfaglia, P., Frazier, H., & Iversen, M. D. (2022). Essential factors for a healthy microbiome: A scoping review. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 19(14), 8361. Doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19148361
Publication
International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
Volume
19
Issue
14
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Comments
This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited
This article belongs to the Special Issue Healthy Nutrition and Physical Activity