NewsMicrobesElite athletes poop may hold clues to boosting metabolismMice given fecal transplants from elite cyclists and soccer players had increased energy stores Cyclists sprint to the finish line at the European Championship 2024. Fecal transplants from a group of elite athletes boosted levels of a particular energy-storing molecule in mice.DIRK WAEM/BELGA MAG/AFP/Getty ImagesBy Alex Viveros50 minutes agoOne of the keys to performing like an elite athlete or at least having the metabolism of one may be pooping like one. Transplanting feces from certain top-level cyclists and soccer players into mice boosted levels of a molecule that fuels intense workouts, researchers report March 27 in Cell Reports.Our gut microbiota the collection of bacteria and other microorganisms living in our digestive tract play a crucial role in helping us digest food. When digestion goes terribly awry, a refresh of these gut bacteria may provide relief. Fecal microbiota transplants, in which a donors poop is transplanted into another persons gut, have been used to treat inflammatory bowel disease and other conditions.