Gut microbiota-targeted interventions for heat stress from preclinical models and human trial

Heat-induced stress and heatstroke are threatening health and productivity in a warming climate. Hyperthermia disrupts gut microbial balance, exacerbating intestinal barrier dysfunction, systemic inflammation, and multi-organ damage. Current management prioritizes reactive cooling, yet emerging evidence highlights the gut microbiome as a critical mediator of systemic resilience to heat stress. Gut microbiota modulation plays a role in mitigating heat stress. Probiotics, phytochemicals, butyrate, and heat acclimation effectively mitigate heat stress in animals, while the human trial underscored heat acclimation’s translational potential. Future research must prioritize clinical validation, standardized protocols, and multitargeted approaches to harness microbiota-mediated resilience against global warming challenges.