Exercise‐induced changes to the human gut microbiota and implications for colorectal cancer: a narrative review

Physical activity is associated with reduced risks of colorectal cancer (CRC) incidence, recurrence and mortality. While these findings are consistent, the mechanism/s underlying this association remain unclear. Growing evidence supports the many ways in which differing characteristics of the gut mi...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:The Journal of physiology 2022-12, Vol.600 (24), p.5189-5201
Main Authors: Boytar, Alexander N., Nitert, Marloes Dekker, Morrision, Mark, Skinner, Tina L., Jenkins, David G.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Bacteria
Cancer
Colorectal cancer
Colorectal carcinoma
colorectal neoplasms
Colorectal Neoplasms - microbiology
Dysbacteriosis
Dysbiosis - complications
Dysbiosis - microbiology
Exercise
gastointestinal microbiome
Gastrointestinal Microbiome - physiology
Humans
Intestinal microflora
Microbiota
neoplasms
Physical activity
Physical fitness
Physical training
Population studies
Topical Review
Topical Reviews
Citations: Items that this one cites
Items that cite this one
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:Physical activity is associated with reduced risks of colorectal cancer (CRC) incidence, recurrence and mortality. While these findings are consistent, the mechanism/s underlying this association remain unclear. Growing evidence supports the many ways in which differing characteristics of the gut microbiota can be tumourigenic or protective against CRC. CRC is characterised by significant dysbiosis including reduced short chain fatty acid‐producing bacteria. Recent findings suggest that exercise can modify the gut microbiota, and these changes are inverse to the changes seen with CRC; however, this exercise‐microbiota interaction is currently understudied in CRC. This review summarises parallel areas of research that are rapidly developing: The exercise–gut microbiota research and cancer–gut microbiota research and highlights the salient similarities. Preliminary evidence suggests that these areas are linked, with exercise mediating changes that promote the antitumorigenic characteristics of the gut microbiota. Future mechanistic and population‐specific studies are warranted to confirm the physiological mechanism/s by which exercise changes the gut microbiota, and the influence of the exercise–gut interaction on cancer specific outcomes in CRC. figure legend The exercise–gut microbiota interaction appears to produce changes that may protect against colorectal cancer, explaining, at least in part, the inverse relationship between exercise and colorectal cancer.
ISSN:0022-3751
1469-7793
DOI:10.1113/JP283702