Microbes, Fitness, and Hormones: Unpacking the Gut Microbiota's Role in Exercise Capacity
Mon, Aug 31, 2026 1:00 PM EDT (10:30 PM Asia/Calcutta)
Event Overview:
The gastrointestinal tract has recently received widespread attention due to the link between the gut microbiota (microbes that reside in the colon) and systemic health and disease states. While much of the attention has been focused on the diet, three distinct, yet interrelated areas of research which will be highlighted in this talk. Data will be presented on the impacts of exercise on gut microbiota, and intestinal health. The presentation will also include the role of gut microbiota in mediating exercise capacity and how gut microbiota depletion impacts tissues outside the gut, critical for exercise, including skeletal muscle. Finally, data exploring on sex differences will be presented as well as the role estrogen and testosterone plays in these differences.
Key Learning Objectives:
- Understand the bidirectional relationship between the gut microbiome and exercise performance/skeletal muscle health based on both animal and human research.
- Learn potential gender differences based on hormones, and what this means for aging women going through menopause and men dealing with low testosterone.
- How do popular sports nutrition ingredients like protein or creatine impact the gut microbiome/how does the gut microbiome impact the effectiveness of ingredients like protein.
Who Should Attend:
- Formulators
- Chief Scientific Officer
- Brand Owner
- Research and Development
Featured Speaker:
Sara C. Campbell, PhD,
FACSM
Associate Professor
Rutgers University Department of Kinesiology and Health
Dr. Campbell is an Associate Professor in the Department of Kinesiology and Health. She received her BS and MS from Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania and PhD from Florida State University. the primary focus of the Campbell lab is to understand the mechanisms responsible for the bidirectional link between exercise and the gut microbiota, how this may be different between the sexes, including transgender health, as well as if diet plays an independent or interdependent role in modulating gut microbial community structure. Her lab also has investigated links between the gut microbiota, brown adipose tissue, and skeletal muscle function. Her laboratory uses biochemical, biophysical, cell biological, genetic, and molecular biology techniques to better these relationships in various experimental systems from human clinical trials to animal models.
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