Review: anti-aging diets and exercise, gut microbiota and age-related musculoskeletal disease
This review suggests anti-aging diets and moderate exercise may improve age-related musculoskeletal diseases partly via gut microbiota changes, but most evidence comes from animal or small human studies and causality is unclear. [1]
Automatic summary · not editorially reviewed
The key findings
The review summarizes evidence on how anti-aging diets and exercise influence age-related musculoskeletal diseases through gut microbiota modulation. [1]
Caloric restriction and intermittent fasting reduced inflammation and benefited joint and muscle health, whereas long-term ketogenic or protein/amino acid restriction may adversely affect bone density and muscle anabolism. [1]
Most evidence derives from animal or small human studies, and causality remains unclear. [1]
The source at a glance
- Study type / format
- Narrative review (abstract)
- Population / context
- People with age-related musculoskeletal diseases, plus preclinical models, as described in the review
- Summary based on
- Study abstract
- Original publication
- September 22, 2026
Review scope: diet, exercise and gut axes
The review summarizes evidence on how anti-aging diets and exercise influence age-related musculoskeletal diseases through gut microbiota modulation. It notes that the microbiota regulates bone, joint and muscle health via gut-joint, gut-bone and gut-muscle axes, and that few reviews combine diet-exercise synergy with pathways linking microbial changes to tissue outcomes.
Supporting source [1]
Diet and exercise effects on microbiota and tissue
Anti-aging diets are classified into caloric restriction (ketogenic diet, fasting-mimicking diet, intermittent fasting, time-restricted feeding) and isocaloric nutrient restriction such as protein or amino acid restriction; these reshape gut microbiota composition and function. Caloric restriction and intermittent fasting reduced inflammation and benefited joint and muscle health, whereas long-term ketogenic or protein/amino acid restriction may adversely affect bone density and muscle anabolism. Moderate exercise increased microbial diversity, enriched Akkermansia and Bifidobacterium, and boosted short-chain fatty acid production, especially butyrate; it also strengthened intestinal barrier integrity, reduced lipopolysaccharide-induced systemic inflammation and alleviated osteoarthritis, bone loss and sarcopenia in preclinical models. Combined diet and exercise may provide greater benefits than either alone.
Supporting source [1]
Evidence limits and proposed precision approach
The review concludes that both anti-aging diets and moderate exercise may improve age-related musculoskeletal diseases partly through gut microbiota modulation. However, most evidence derives from animal or small human studies, and causality remains unclear. Given substantial inter-individual variability, future research should prioritize personalized nutrition and exercise prescriptions tailored to microbiota, genetic background and lifestyle, and clarify causal mechanisms via multi-omics and germ-free models.
Supporting source [1]
How to interpret this
Abstract only; the full text was not reviewed. The review itself states that most evidence derives from animal or small human studies and that causality remains unclear.
Based on the study abstract; the full paper, tables and supplementary data were not reviewed.
Source & supporting passages
Yu M, Guo P, Liu Q, Zhang XA. · europepmc.org · September 22, 2026