Exercise May Help Reduce Gut Bacteria Associated With Inflammation

Previous research has found that exercise may help lower inflammation by activating muscle cells to release a protein called Interleukin 6 which has several anti-inflammatory effects. Now a new study suggests that exercise may also help lower inflammation by increasing the abundance of bacteria associated with anti-inflammation and decreasing the abundance of bacteria associated with pro-inflammation.

Fourteen physically inactive mature women participated in the study. Half of them were assigned to an exercise group and the other half were assigned to control group that did not perform any exercise for 8 weeks. The researchers analyzed gut microbiota at baseline and several times during the study.

Participants in the exercise group saw a significant increase in bacteria associated with anti-inflammation including Bifidobacteriaceae, Bifidobacterium, Akkermansia, and Gemmingercompared to the control group. They also saw decreases in the abundance of the bacteria Proteobacteria, which is associated with pro-inflammation.

The study was conducted by researchers from Zhejiang University.It was published online ahead of print on December 15, 2020 in the International Journal of Sports Medicine,