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Gut microbes (the microbiome) produce many molecules that affect human physiology. To determine how the microbiome might affect athletic performance, investigators obtained daily stool samples from 15 runners for 1 week before and 1 week after the Boston Marathon and compared the microbiome findings to those of a group of 10 sedentary controls. They then confirmed their findings in a second group of athletes and controls.
Athletes had a higher abundance of one bacterial species, Veillonella atypica, than controls. This species was even more abundant following exercise; in addition, the bacterial genes that convert lactate to propionate were activated by exercise. The researchers then fed V. atypica (isolated from the athletes) to mice. Mice …