Chinese Journal of Tissue Engineering Research ›› 2025, Vol. 29 ›› Issue (11): 2394-2401.doi: 10.12307/2025.354

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Effects of exercise intervention on intestinal flora in college students: a systematic review

Liu Zhaozhi1, 2, Huang Li1, 2, Tian Haodong1, 2, Li Lan1, 2, Chen Xiao3, Tao Yunfei1, 2, Peng Li1, 2     

  1. 1School of Physical Education, 2Key Laboratory of Physical Fitness Evaluation and Exercise Performance Monitoring of the General Administration of Sport of China, School of Physical Education, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China; 3School of Health, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan 250000, Shandong Province, China
  • Received:2024-03-22 Accepted:2024-05-18 Online:2025-04-18 Published:2024-08-12
  • Contact: Peng Li, PhD, Professor, Doctoral supervisor, School of Physical Education, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China; Key Laboratory of Physical Fitness Evaluation and Exercise Performance Monitoring of the General Administration of Sport of China, School of Physical Education, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China
  • About author:Liu Zhaozhi, Master candidate, School of Physical Education, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China; Key Laboratory of Physical Fitness Evaluation and Exercise Performance Monitoring of the General Administration of Sport of China, School of Physical Education, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China
  • Supported by:
    National Social Science Foundation of China, No. 21BTY092 (to PL); General Project of Chongqing Administration of Sport, No. B202206 (to HL)

Abstract: BACKGROUND: The regulation of intestinal flora by exercise is closely related to human health, but intestinal flora involves many factors. Existing studies have lacked consistent evidence on the effect of exercise on the intestinal flora of college students.
OBJECTIVE: To explore the effects of exercise on intestinal flora diversity and species composition of college students. 
METHODS: Through systematic search of PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, Medline, Cochrane Library, CNKI, WanFang Database and VIP database, eight empirical studies were selected and included, and semi-quantitative analysis was performed on them. 
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: In terms of the species diversity of the intestinal flora, both high-intensity interval training and Tai Chi exercise significantly enhance the species diversity of intestinal flora in college students, while aerobic exercise does not have a significant effect on the enhancement of intestinal flora diversity in college students. In terms of the species composition of the intestinal flora, all three exercise modalities significantly alter the compositional structure of the intestinal flora in college students, which can increase the abundance of beneficial bacteria such as Ruminalococcus, Faecalis prevotelli, Blautia, and decrease the abundance of harmful bacteria such as Escherichia spp. Compared with high-intensity interval training, aerobic and Tai Chi exercise causes more elevated abundance of beneficial bacteria. In addition to changes in intestinal flora characteristics, exercise improves body composition, cardiorespiratory function, and executive function in college students, and these health benefits are closely linked to exercise-induced changes in intestinal flora that can produce health benefits for the body through metabolic regulation, barrier function, and neuromodulation. Although studies have confirmed the association between exercise and intestinal flora, the mechanism by which exercise affects intestinal flora has not yet been clarified, and at the same time, localizing the flora related to the host health is the key to targeting intestinal flora as a therapeutic target in the future, all of which are worthy of further attention and investigation.

中国组织工程研究杂志出版内容重点:组织构建;骨细胞;软骨细胞;细胞培养;成纤维细胞;血管内皮细胞;骨质疏松;组织工程

Key words: exercise intervention, college students, intestinal flora, bacterial diversity, species composition

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