Researchers have recently become very interested on the impact of the gut microbiome on health due to its importance in digestion and absorption of nutrients found in our diet. In fact, if it was not for the gut microbiome, our body would not be able to digest most of the nutrients found in our daily diet. Much of the research has focused on the effects of diet on the diversity of bacteria found in the gastro-intestinal tract. However, a current topic of research is focused on the effects of exercise on the diversity of the gut microbiome. It has been shown that exercise can increase the diversity of bacteria found within the gut, which is considered to be extremely beneficial for the health of an individual. In a study done by scientists at the University at College Cork in Ireland, the microbiomes of 40 male Irish rugby players were tested. The study showed that the rugby players had an increased diversity of bacteria within their gastro-intestinal tract, whereas individuals that lead sedentary lives had a decrease in the diversity of the their gut microbiome (Clarke et al., 2014). However, those that lead active lives also followed different diets. The athletes consumed high levels of protein, calories, and nutrition for energy (Clarke et al., 2014).
Additional Studies have also shown that exercise has reduced the affects of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB) induced changes on the mouse gut microbiome (Choi et al., 2013). PCB is a toxin that acts as immunosuppressant and a carcinogen. Exercise helped reduce the negative effects of the PCB on the mouse gut microbiome (Choi et al., 2013). Both of these studies used the 16s RNA sequencing to identify the bacterial species within the gut microbiome of the rugby players and the mice because the 16s rDNA sequence is one of the most unchanged DNA sequences within bacteria. Therefore, it can be used as good identification of bacteria (Choi et al., 2013).
Additional Studies have also shown that exercise has reduced the affects of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB) induced changes on the mouse gut microbiome (Choi et al., 2013). PCB is a toxin that acts as immunosuppressant and a carcinogen. Exercise helped reduce the negative effects of the PCB on the mouse gut microbiome (Choi et al., 2013). Both of these studies used the 16s RNA sequencing to identify the bacterial species within the gut microbiome of the rugby players and the mice because the 16s rDNA sequence is one of the most unchanged DNA sequences within bacteria. Therefore, it can be used as good identification of bacteria (Choi et al., 2013).