Can physical exercise modify intestinal integrity and gut 
microbiota composition? A systematic review of in vivo studies

Stephanie Michelin Santana Pereira; Vinícius Parzanini Brilhante de São José; Alessandra da Silva; Karina Vitoria Cipriana Martins; Luciano Bernardes Leite; Pedro Forte; Antônio José Natali; Hércia Stampini Duarte Martino; Ceres Mattos Della Lucia; Josefina Bressan

doi:10.5114/biolsport.2025.148545

eISSN: 2083-1862
ISSN: 0860-021X

Biology of Sport

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abstract:

Review paper

Can physical exercise modify intestinal integrity and gut microbiota composition? A systematic review of in vivo studies

Stephanie Michelin Santana Pereira

¹

,

Vinícius Parzanini Brilhante de São José

²

,

Alessandra da Silva

³

,

Karina Vitoria Cipriana Martins

¹

,

Luciano Bernardes Leite

^{4, 5}

,

Pedro Forte

^{5, 6, 7, 8}

,

Antônio José Natali

⁴

,

Hércia Stampini Duarte Martino

²

,

Ceres Mattos Della Lucia

¹

,

Josefina Bressan

³

Laboratory of Vitamin Analysis, Department of Nutrition and Health, Universidade Federal de Viçosa, MG, Brazil
Laboratory of Experimental Nutrition, Department of Nutrition and Health, Universidade Federal de Viçosa, MG, Brazil
Laboratory of Energy Metabolism and Body Composition, Department of Nutrition and Health, Universidade Federal de Viçosa, MG, Brazil
Exercise Biology Laboratory, Department of Physical Education, Universidade Federal de Viçosa, MG, Brazil
Department of Sports, Instituto Politécnico de Bragança, Bragança, Portugal
Department of Sports, Higher Institute of Educational Sciences of the Douro, Penafiel, Portugal
CI-ISCE, ISCE Douro, Penafiel, Portugal
Research Center for Active Living and Wellbeing (LiveWell), Instituto Politécnico de Bragança, Bragança, Portugal

Biol Sport. 2025;42(4):13–28

DOI: https://doi.org/10.5114/biolsport.2025.148545

Online publish date: 2025/04/14

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AMA

Santana Pereira S, de São José V, da Silva A, et al. Can physical exercise modify intestinal integrity and gut 
microbiota composition? A systematic review of in vivo studies. Biology of Sport. 2025;42(4):13-28. doi:10.5114/biolsport.2025.148545.

APA

Santana Pereira, S., de São José, V., da Silva, A., Martins, K., Leite, L.,  & Forte, P. et al. (2025). Can physical exercise modify intestinal integrity and gut 
microbiota composition? A systematic review of in vivo studies. Biology of Sport, 42(4), 13-28. https://doi.org/10.5114/biolsport.2025.148545

Chicago

Santana Pereira, Stephanie Michelin, Vinícius Parzanini Brilhante de São José, Alessandra da Silva, Karina Vitoria Cipriana Martins, Luciano Bernardes Leite, Pedro Forte,  and Antônio José Natali et al. 2025. "Can physical exercise modify intestinal integrity and gut 
microbiota composition? A systematic review of in vivo studies". Biology of Sport 42 (4): 13-28. doi:10.5114/biolsport.2025.148545.

Harvard

Santana Pereira, S., de São José, V., da Silva, A., Martins, K., Leite, L., Forte, P., Natali, A., Martino, H., Lucia, C.,  and Bressan, J. (2025). Can physical exercise modify intestinal integrity and gut 
microbiota composition? A systematic review of in vivo studies. Biology of Sport, 42(4), pp.13-28. https://doi.org/10.5114/biolsport.2025.148545

MLA

Santana Pereira, Stephanie Michelin et al. "Can physical exercise modify intestinal integrity and gut 
microbiota composition? A systematic review of in vivo studies." Biology of Sport, vol. 42, no. 4, 2025, pp. 13-28. doi:10.5114/biolsport.2025.148545.

Vancouver

Santana Pereira S, de São José V, da Silva A, Martins K, Leite L, Forte P et al. Can physical exercise modify intestinal integrity and gut 
microbiota composition? A systematic review of in vivo studies. Biology of Sport. 2025;42(4):13-28. doi:10.5114/biolsport.2025.148545.

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There is little evidence about how physical exercise affects the gut microbiota since studies in the field are relatively recent. Thus, we aimed to systematically review the main effects of regular physical exercise on the intestinal integrity and microbiota composition in animal models, discuss the mechanisms involved, and indicate future directions. Searches for original articles were performed in PubMed/MEDLINE, Scopus, Web of Science, and Embase. A total of 18 studies were selected. These studies suggest that physical exercise has a significant impact on the gut microbiota. Voluntary running increased the thickness of duodenal villi and microbiota diversity but reduced its richness. Low-intensity treadmill running increased the abundance of the phylum Actinobacteria and the family Bifidobacteriaceae, while that of moderate-intensity reduced the Bacteroides/Prevotella ratio. High-intensity swimming and treadmill running altered the gut microbiota, evidenced by β diversity, and increased the Shannon and Chao indices but reduced short-chain fatty acids. Resistance exercise increased the Chao index and altered the functionality of the gut microbiota, increasing carbohydrate metabolism and reducing lipid and amino acid metabolism. Thus, regular physical exercise of different intensities and types can modify the gut microbiota, and the exercise benefits appear to be positively associated with training intensity.

keywords:

Can physical exercise modify intestinal integrity and gut microbiota composition? A systematic review of in vivo studies

Microbiome, Microbial community compositions, Physical activity, Training, Review