Elite athletes really are different from you and me. Or, at least their gut microbes are.
Scientists who analyzed stool samples of 15 runners a week before and after they competed in the 2015 Boston Marathon found unusually high levels of one particular microbe compared to 10 non-athletes. Levels of the microbe in question, Veillonella, spiked after an intense workout and bloomed even more after the marathon.
advertisement
That was a lightbulb moment for the scientists because the bacterium is known for breaking down and eating lactate, a metabolite even ordinary runners equate with fatigue.
Unlock this article by subscribing to STAT+ and enjoy your first 30 days free!
GET STARTED Log In
Previous article：
‘Oppenheimer’ and the risks of AI in health care
Next article： Tori Bowie and the unacceptable rates of Black maternal death
Next article： Tori Bowie and the unacceptable rates of Black maternal death
