A new study has revealed that a specific microbe found in the human intestine appears to be capable of increasing muscle strength.
Your intestines are full of tiny creatures that have a disproportionately large influence on your health. Collectively called gut microbiomeplay key roles in a variety of processes, from digestion and metabolism to immune system modulation, sleep, neurodevelopment and brain function.
In a study recently in GUTresearchers highlight another surprising service that appears to be offered by at least one species of gut microbe: improve muscle strength.
As praised by , in addition to demonstrating this intriguing relationship between intestinal flora and muscle function, the researchers also identified a specific bacteria of the genus Roseburia as the microbe responsible.
Until now, although there is growing evidence of the broad reach of gut microbes, there has been little indication of their influence on muscle strength and no bacterial species has been identified as a direct modulator of muscle function.
By identifying this connection, researchers reinforce the argument for the existence of a “gut-muscle axis”similar to the better-known gut-brain axis, explained co-author and exercise physiologist Jonathan Ruizfrom the University of Granada, in Spain, to Science Alert.
“Taken together, our findings provide solid evidence confirming the existence of a gut-muscle axis in which this identified bacterium positively modulates muscle metabolism and muscle strength”, he praised.
To look for associations between specific gut flora and muscle strength, researchers researchers analyzed stool samples of two groups of human participants: 90 young adults (18 to 25 years old) and 33 older adults (65 years old and older).
The stool samples contained rich microbial biodiversity. However, bacteria from the genus Roseburia stood out due to positive correlations with “muscle-related outcomes”.
Curious results
Roseburia intestinalis, for example, is apparently linked to leg and upper body strength in young adults.
But one species in particular caught the attention of researchers. The relative abundance of Roseburia inulinivorans was positively associated with multiple strength metrics in humans, including handgrip, leg press, and bench press.
Older adults who have this microbe in their feces also have a hand grip that is nearly 30 percent stronger than comparable participants without signs of its presence.
It also appears to benefit young adults, in whom a higher prevalence of R. inulinivorans has been associated with both a stronger hand grip and greater cardiorespiratory capacity.
