What if gastrointestinal complications in endurance athletes were gut injuries in response to a high consumption of ultra-processed foods? Please take care of your bugs if you want to improve endurance performance: a narrative review

Álvarez-Herms, Jesús; González-Benito, A.; Corbi, F.; Odriozola, A.

doi:10.1007/s00421-023-05331-z

Cited by 9 publications

(10 citation statements)

References 225 publications

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“…Ultimately, these processes may affect skeletal muscle through the gut-muscle axis or gut-brain axis, increasing the risk of musculoskeletal injury ( 22 ). One common scenario is when athletes increase their intake of sports energetic supplements for performance and recovery, potential microbiota dysbiosis and leaky gut may lead to gastrointestinal complications, a significant factor in poor endurance performance and dropout ( 54 ). Moreover, environmental pollutants from food packaging, such as phthalates and bisphenol, may also impact muscle mass and strength ( 55 ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Furthermore, various other types of food additives, such as preservatives, nanoparticles, foaming agents, stabilizers, flavor enhancers, and others, individually or in combination with each other or with different types of food additives, have been found to potentially confer growth advantages or increased toxicity in host gut microbiota, including (opportunistic) pathogenic micro-organisms, leading to dysbiosis (50,51). These changes in the microbiota contribute to disrupting the intestinal barrier's function, compromising nutrient absorption, and increasing the glycemic load, thereby affecting overall metabolic function (52,53). Additionally, compromised permeability, also known as "gut leaky syndrome" may lead to higher endotoxemia as harmful substances enter, thereby promoting systemic inflammation and a chronic state of immune activation.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Higher ultra processed foods intake is associated with low muscle mass in young to middle-aged adults: a cross-sectional NHANES study

Kong,

Xie,

et al. 2024

Front. Nutr.

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DesignUltra-processed foods (UPFs) have become a pressing global health concern, prompting investigations into their potential association with low muscle mass in adults.MethodsThis cross-sectional study analyzed data from 10,255 adults aged 20−59 years who participated in the National Health and Nutritional Examination Survey (NHANES) during cycles spanning from 2011 to 2018. The primary outcome, low muscle mass, was assessed using the Foundation for the National Institutes of Health (FNIH) definition, employing restricted cubic splines and weighted multivariate regression for analysis. Sensitivity analysis incorporated three other prevalent definitions to explore optimal cut points for muscle quality in the context of sarcopenia.ResultsThe weighted prevalence of low muscle mass was 7.65%. Comparing the percentage of UPFs calories intake between individuals with normal and low muscle mass, the values were found to be similar (55.70 vs. 54.62%). Significantly linear associations were observed between UPFs consumption and low muscle mass (P for non-linear = 0.7915, P for total = 0.0117). Upon full adjustment for potential confounding factors, participants with the highest UPFs intake exhibited a 60% increased risk of low muscle mass (OR = 1.60, 95% CI: 1.13 to 2.26, P for trend = 0.003) and a decrease in ALM/BMI (β = −0.0176, 95% CI: −0.0274 to −0.0077, P for trend = 0.003). Sensitivity analysis confirmed the consistency of these associations, except for the International Working Group on Sarcopenia (IWGS) definition, where the observed association between the highest quartiles of UPFs (%Kcal) and low muscle mass did not attain statistical significance (OR = 1.35, 95% CI: 0.97 to 1.87, P for trend = 0.082).ConclusionOur study underscores a significant linear association between higher UPFs consumption and an elevated risk of low muscle mass in adults. These findings emphasize the potential adverse impact of UPFs on muscle health and emphasize the need to address UPFs consumption as a modifiable risk factor in the context of sarcopenia.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Higher ultra processed foods intake is associated with low muscle mass in young to middle-aged adults: a cross-sectional NHANES study

Kong,

Xie,

et al. 2024

Front. Nutr.

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“…Niekamp et al [70] Experimental study N = 47 sedentary men and women (47)(48)(49)(50)(51)(52)(53)(54)(55)(56)(57)(58)(59)(60)(61)(62)(63) Maximal graded treadmill exercise tests (100% maximal oxygen uptake).…”

Section: Effects Of Nutrition On Metabolic Acidosis In High-intensity...mentioning

confidence: 99%

Summatory Effects of Anaerobic Exercise and a ‘Westernized Athletic Diet’ on Gut Dysbiosis and Chronic Low-Grade Metabolic Acidosis

Álvarez-Herms

2024

Microorganisms

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Anaerobic exercise decreases systemic pH and increases metabolic acidosis in athletes, altering the acid-base homeostasis. In addition, nutritional recommendations advising athletes to intake higher amounts of proteins and simple carbohydrates (including from sport functional supplements) could be detrimental to restoring acid-base balance. Here, this specific nutrition could be classified as an acidic diet and defined as ‘Westernized athletic nutrition’. The maintenance of a chronic physiological state of low-grade metabolic acidosis produces detrimental effects on systemic health, physical performance, and inflammation. Therefore, nutrition must be capable of compensating for systemic acidosis from anaerobic exercise. The healthy gut microbiota can contribute to improving health and physical performance in athletes and, specifically, decrease the systemic acidic load through the conversion of lactate from systemic circulation to short-chain fatty acids in the proximal colon. On the contrary, microbial dysbiosis results in negative consequences for host health and physical performance because it results in a greater accumulation of systemic lactate, hydrogen ions, carbon dioxide, bacterial endotoxins, bioamines, and immunogenic compounds that are transported through the epithelia into the blood circulation. In conclusion, the systemic metabolic acidosis resulting from anaerobic exercise can be aggravated through an acidic diet, promoting chronic, low-grade metabolic acidosis in athletes. The individuality of athletic training and nutrition must take into consideration the acid-base homeostasis to modulate microbiota and adaptive physiological responses.

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“…Similarly, sports nutrition supplements, which contain food additives such as artificial sweeteners, emulsifiers, preservatives, and acidity regulators, are used by athletes to improve performance and recover faster. A recent review by Alvarez-Herms, Gonzalez-Benito and Odriozola [ 46 ] outlined the gastrointestinal issues experienced by some athletes, which they explain are directly related to loss of gut equilibrium, microbiota dysbiosis, and leaky gut, and may be due in part to the elevated intake of UPFs. Although meal rations and athletic supplements are often high in nutritional value, they are also considered UPFs, and the long-term effects of eating these types of foods are not yet clear.…”

Section: Upfs and The Gut Microbiomementioning

confidence: 99%

Ultra-Processed Foods: A Narrative Review of the Impact on the Human Gut Microbiome and Variations in Classification Methods

Brichacek,

Florkowski,

Abiona

et al. 2024

Nutrients

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Ultra-processed foods (UPFs) are foods that are industrially processed and are often pre-packaged, convenient, energy-dense, and nutrient-poor. UPFs are widespread in the current Western diet and their proposed contribution to non-communicable diseases such as obesity and cardiovascular disease is supported by numerous studies. UPFs are hypothesized to affect the body in multiple ways, including by inducing changes in the gut microbiome. This review summarizes the available research on the effect of UPFs on the gut microbiome. We also review current usage of the NOVA food classification system in randomized controlled trials and observational studies and how its implementation effects UPF research. Despite some differences in methodology between studies, results often associate UPF consumption with a number of negative health consequences. There are attempts to standardize a UPF classification system; however, reaching and implementing a consensus is difficult. Future studies focusing on the mechanisms by which UPFs effect the body, including through the microbiome and metabolome, will be essential to refine our understanding of the effects of UPFs on human health.

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What if gastrointestinal complications in endurance athletes were gut injuries in response to a high consumption of ultra-processed foods? Please take care of your bugs if you want to improve endurance performance: a narrative review

Cited by 9 publications

References 225 publications

Higher ultra processed foods intake is associated with low muscle mass in young to middle-aged adults: a cross-sectional NHANES study

Higher ultra processed foods intake is associated with low muscle mass in young to middle-aged adults: a cross-sectional NHANES study

Summatory Effects of Anaerobic Exercise and a ‘Westernized Athletic Diet’ on Gut Dysbiosis and Chronic Low-Grade Metabolic Acidosis

Ultra-Processed Foods: A Narrative Review of the Impact on the Human Gut Microbiome and Variations in Classification Methods

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