27 Jun 2014 Blackmores Institute Exercise and protein boost diversity of gut bacteria 27 Jun 2014 Share Share on LinkedIn Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Google+ Share on Pinterest News Exercise and high levels of dietary protein have a beneficial effect on the gut by boosting its bacterial diversity, new research shows. Writing online this month in the journal Gut, the Irish researchers found that athletes from a professional rugby team differed significantly from a control group with respect to plasma creatine kinase (a marker of extreme exercise), and inflammatory and metabolic markers. × To continue reading this article, please Log In or Sign Up for access.