by Roberto
Ocean view at San Andrés Island. Photo credit: Mechas Zambrano
These days there seems to be an ever-growing number of studies aiming to associate diverse human behaviors with gut microbiome composition. My curiosity has been particularly piqued by studies involving exercise. One study suggested that the right fecal transplants could lead to improved running times (in mice). Another study noted the increased relative abundance of Veillonella atypica in stool samples of marathon runners postmarathon and suggested this bacterium improved running times due to its conversion of exercise-induced lactate into propionate. It made me wonder, will the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) soon be screening athletes for microbial doping? Then came one that I had a bit of a tough time digesting, an article claiming that exercise motivation was regulated by a microbiome-dependent gut-brain pathway. Briefly, the authors present evidence for microbiome-dependent production of endocannabinoid metabolites that in turn lead to elevated levels of dopamine during exercise. Yes, I realize exercise makes me feel good. But are my microbes really the ones motivating me to exercise? I remain open minded but, I must say, somewhat skeptical. One never knows for sure.
Why bring up microbes and exercise now? This is a special week for us. Mechas and I are headed off to the Caribbean island of San Andrés to participate in a Sprint triathlon on Friday, a 5K race on Saturday, and an Olympic distance triathlon on Sunday. Have our microbiomes been our motivators to train? I can't say for sure the microbes we carry had no role. But the allure of the warm breeze, the turquoise waters and the company of hundreds of other participants... I have no doubt those are our great motivators. Wish us luck!
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