Six-Week Endurance Exercise Alters Gut Metagenome That Is not Reflected in Systemic Metabolism in Over-weight Women

Abstract

Recent studies suggest that exercise alters the gut microbiome. We determined whether six-weeks endurance exercise, without changing diet, affected the gut metagenome and systemic metabolites of overweight women. Previously sedentary overweight women (n = 19) underwent a six-weeks endurance exercise intervention, but two were excluded due to antibiotic therapy. The gut microbiota composition and functions were analyzed by 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing and metagenomics. Body composition was analyzed with DXA X-ray densitometer and serum metabolomics with NMR metabolomics. Total energy and energy-yielding nutrient intakes were analyzed from food records using Micro-Nutrica software. Serum clinical variables were determined with KONELAB instrument. Soluble Vascular Adhesion Protein 1 (VAP-1) was measured with ELISA and its' enzymatic activity as produced hydrogen peroxide. The exercise intervention was effective, as maximal power and maximum rate of oxygen consumption increased while android fat mass decreased. No changes in diet were observed. Metagenomic analysis revealed taxonomic shifts including an increase in Akkermansia and a decrease in Proteobacteria. These changes were independent of age, weight, fat % as well as energy and fiber intake. Training slightly increased Jaccard distance of genus level β-diversity. Training did not alter the enriched metagenomic pathways, which, according to Bray Curtis dissimilarity analysis, may have been due to that only half of the subjects' microbiomes responded considerably to exercise. Nevertheless, tranining decreased the abundance of several genes including those related to fructose and amino acid metabolism. These metagenomic changes, however, were not translated into major systemic metabolic changes as only two metabolites, phospholipids and cholesterol in large VLDL particles, decreased after exercise. Training also decreased the amine oxidase activity of pro-inflammatory VAP-1, whereas no changes in CRP were detected. All clinical blood variables were within normal range, yet exercise slightly increased glucose and decreased LDL and HDL. In conclusion, exercise training modified the gut microbiome without greatly affecting systemic metabolites or body composition. Based on our data and existing literature, we propose that especially Akkermansia and Proteobacteria are exercise-responsive taxa. Our results warrant the need for further studies in larger cohorts to determine whether exercise types other than endurance exercise also modify the gut metagenome.

Improvement of non‐invasive markers of NAFLD from an individualised, web‐based exercise program

“…The intestinal microbiome appears to contribute to the pathogenesis of hepatic inflammation in NAFLD by different means. Recent studies in mice and humans suggested that exercise influences the gut microbiome, eventually independently of dietary changes . In the current study we observed an increase in the microbial diversity following the short‐term intervention in the subgroup of patients that voluntary provided microbiota.…”

“…Recent studies in mice and humans suggested that exercise influences the gut microbiome, eventually independently of dietary changes. 42,43 In the current study we observed an increase in the microbial diversity following the short-term intervention in the subgroup of patients that voluntary provided microbiota. It is well known that gut microbial composition may influence the production of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), end products of fermentation of dietary fibres by the anaerobic intestinal microbiota, and these exert multiple beneficial effects on energy metabolism.…”

Mutual Interactions among Exercise, Sport Supplements and Microbiota

“…9,11,12,48,57,[59][60][61]63,68,70,[75][76][77][78][79][80][81][82][83][84][85][86][87][88][89][90][91][92][93].Exercise and microbiota. Enterobacteriaceae and ↑ Bifidobacterium spp Bifidobacterium spp.…”

Attributes of Physical Activity and Gut Microbiome in Adults: A Systematic Review

“…We assessed the methodological quality and risk of bias in the five included studies, using the PEDro scale to assess key components of the study design [19]. Four studies were found to have at least fair level quality with PEDro score ≥ 4 [20][21][22][23]; the remaining study was rated as poor, with a PEDro score ≤ 3 [24] (Supplemental ▶Table 2S).…”

“…Number of participants ranged from 12-74, and sample characteristics varied across studies. One study included male participants only [23], and two studies included only female participants [22,24]. The remaining two studies included participants of both sex.…”