Could the therapeutic effect of physical activity on irritable bowel syndrome be mediated through changes to the gut microbiome? A narrative and hypothesis generating review

Lindsell, HB ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0009-7904-3962, Williams, NC ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2607-4572, Magistro, D ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2554-3701, Corsetti, M, Walton, GE and Hunter, K, 2025. Could the therapeutic effect of physical activity on irritable bowel syndrome be mediated through changes to the gut microbiome? A narrative and hypothesis generating review. Neurogastroenterology and Motility: e70004. ISSN 1350-1925

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Abstract

Background: Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is one of the most prevalent gastrointestinal (GI) disorders worldwide. Defined as a disorder of gut-brain interaction, its pathophysiology is still not completely clear. Consequently, current treatments primarily target symptoms rather than addressing the cause of the condition. The gut microbiome is increasingly acknowledged as central to IBS pathophysiology and, thus, may have therapeutic potential. Several national treatment guidelines recommend increasing physical activity for IBS management.

Aims: This review summarises the evidence about the relationship between physical activity, IBS symptoms, and the gut microbiome, investigating the hypothesis that physical activity's therapeutic effects on IBS may be explained via modulation of the gut microbiome.

Results: This review revealed that routine exercise was associated with a 15%-66% reduction in symptom severity and up to 41% enhanced QoL in IBS participants, and modulates the gut microbiome in healthy controls.

Discussion: This review generates the hypothesis that routine physical activity may favorably alter gut microbiome composition in IBS to improve IBS symptomology. While a plausible hypothesis, research needs to confirm whether gut microbiome modulation is involved in physical activity associated IBS symptom relief.

Conclusion: Furthermore, the establishment of the most effective mode, duration, and intensity of physical activity for each sex and IBS-subtype is needed, with patient input during this process crucial to successfully translate science into practice.

Item Type:	Journal article
Publication Title:	Neurogastroenterology and Motility
Creators:	Lindsell, H.B., Williams, N.C., Magistro, D., Corsetti, M., Walton, G.E. and Hunter, K.
Publisher:	Wiley
Date:	3 March 2025
ISSN:	1350-1925
Identifiers:	Number Type 10.1111/nmo.70004 DOI 2400020 Other
Rights:	© 2025 the author(s). Neurogastroenterology & Motility published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd. This is an open access article under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits use, distribution and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Divisions:	Schools > School of Science and Technology
Record created by:	Jonathan Gallacher
Date Added:	10 Mar 2025 15:46
Last Modified:	10 Mar 2025 15:46
URI:	https://irep.ntu.ac.uk/id/eprint/53224

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