The Nutrition-Microbiota-Physical Activity Triad: An Inspiring New Concept for Health and Sports Performance

International audienceAbstract: The human gut microbiota is currently the focus of converging interest in many diseasesand sports performance. This review presents gut microbiota as a real “orchestra conductor” in thehost’s physio(patho)logy due to its implications in many aspects of health and disease. Reciprocally,gut microbiota composition and activity are influenced by many different factors, such as diet andphysical activity. Literature data have shown that macro- and micro-nutrients influence gut microbiotacomposition. Cumulative data indicate that gut bacteria are sensitive to modulation by physicalactivity, as shown by studies using training and hypoactivity models. Sports performance studieshave also presented interesting and promising results. Therefore, gut microbiota could be considered a“pivotal” organ for health and sports performance, leading to a new concept: the nutrition-microbiotaphysical activity triad. The next challenge for the scientific and medical communities is to test thisconcept in clinical studies. The long-term aim is to find the best combination of the three elementsof this triad to optimize treatments, delay disease onset, or enhance sports performance. The manypossibilities offered by biotic supplementation and training modalities open different avenues forfuture researc