: The microbiome has emerged as a key player contributing significantly to the human
physiology over the past decades. The potential microbial niche is largely unexplored in the context
of exercise enhancing capacity and the related mitochondrial functions. Physical exercise can influence the gut microbiota composition and diversity, whereas a sedentary lifestyle in association with
dysbiosis can lead to reduced well-being and diseases. Here, we have elucidated the importance of
diverse microbiota, which is associated with an individual’s fitness, and moreover, its connection
with the organelle, the mitochondria, which is the hub of energy production, signaling, and cellular
homeostasis. Microbial by-products, such as short-chain fatty acids, are produced during regular
exercise that can enhance the mitochondrial capacity. Therefore, exercise can be employed as a therapeutic intervention to circumvent or subside various metabolic and mitochondria-related diseases.
Alternatively, the microbiome–mitochondria axis can be targeted to enhance exercise performance.
This review furthers our understanding about the influence of microbiome on the functional capacity
of the mitochondria and exercise performance, and the interplay between them. CLICK TO REVIEW
Keywords: regular exercise training; gut microbiome; mitochondrial plasticity; short chain fatty
acids; metabolism; microbial metabolites