Scientists have discovered running an amazing connection between gut flora and Marathon. In the human intestines are about a hundred trillion bacteria and other microorganisms cavort. The so-called Microbiome splits nutrients, fighting pathogens, and could even affect athletic performance, report researchers in the journal “Nature Medicine”.

For their analysis they had collected almost daily stool samples of 15 athletes – a week before they did the 2015 Boston Marathon and a week after that. “An organism struck us immediately: Veillonella, which was immediately after the Marathon the runners are abundant,” said Aleksandar Kostic from the Joslin Diabetes Center in Boston in the U.S. state of Massachusetts.

13 percent more performance in mice

The researchers believe that the microbes convert the Lactate, resulting in a great effort in the muscles and from there into the intestine. Through the removal process short-chain fatty acids such as Propionate form.

These can have a amazing influence on the performance. Previous studies show that Propionate heart rate, oxygen consumption, and fat affect combustion. Stool samples from ten test persons operated a little sporty, contained significantly less Veillonella bacteria.

To be sure, repeat the scientists, the Experiment with 87 ultra-marathon runners and rowers. Also in your chair, they found high amounts of the microbes. This is not surprising: it Occurs in a great sporting effort lactate, to get the microbes in the gut, the feed mainly to feed more, and explosion-multiply fast.

The researchers wanted to know how the performance changes when the number of microbes is increased before the physical effort artificially. For this, they planted bacteria in the intestine of mice and left in a hamster wheel, not running, until the animals were able to. Mice in which the microbes were administered, were on average 13 per cent longer than their counterparts in the comparison group.

In General, these mice studies are difficult in humans. Nevertheless, the researchers hope that their findings also medically. “What we imagine is a probiotic Supplement, taking people to improve their ability for movement,” says Kostic.