Researchers in America have found the bacterium Veillonella to be much more common in the bowel of marathon runners, when compared to sedentary people. What is more, the numbers of Veillonella increase soon after a race.
Using this information, the researchers fed mice pellets, containing Veillonella, that had been isolated from a marathon runner. Amazingly, the mice fed Veillonella had greater endurance on the treadmill than those without the organism.
The research, published June 24 in Nature Medicine, is the latest of many studies into the microbiome, now thought of as another organ in the body. Studies have linked the microbiome to many conditions such as weight gain or loss, colitis, asthma and diabetes.
In this study, stool samples were taken from a group of marathon runners in the week before and after the race. Samples were also taken from sedentary people as a control experiment. Mice fed the organisms from the athletes showed endurance 13% greater than control mice.
The study also found the athletes harboured large amounts of Veillonella , especially soon after the marathon.
Veillonella, uses lactic acid as its “preferred source” of energy. Given that during strenuous exercise, the muscles produce lactic acid, one can see how the organisms may help.
The team suspects a “positive feedback loop” is at work: Elite athletes are constantly producing a lot of lactic acid, which sets up a friendly environment for Veillonella to thrive. The bacteria, in turn, support greater exercise capacity.
Veillonella bacteria, convert lactic acid into propionate. When the research team tried infusing lab mice with proprionate, a fatty acid, then running the treadmill test again, they found propionate boosted the animals’ endurance.
The trial leader felt ‘To my knowledge, this is the first study showing a direct symbiotic mechanism between the microbiome and the host,”.
Probiotic supplements containing Veillonella do not currently exist and there is no proof that such supplements would improve performance in athletes. What is not clear is how much impact different factors have on the athletes gut flora. Is it the result of intense exercise and lactic acid production or is it dietary or genetic or environmental in origin.
Whatever, the study adds another interesting piece to the microbiome jigsaw.
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