Mieszkowski, J. | Search bioRxiv

bioRxiv2024

Integrative Metagenomic and Blood Biomarker Analysis Reveals Distinct Metabolic Responses to Aerobic and Anaerobic Interventions in Athletic and Non-Athletic Individuals

BackgroundThe gut microbiome influences physiological responses to exercise through interactions with inflammatory markers and metabolite production. Athletes often exhibit a more diverse gut microbiome that is associated with improved performance, but the mechanisms, particularly in relation to different training modalities, are not fully understood. This study aims to integrate blood serum markers with metagenomic data to explore the interplay between exercise type, gut microbiome, and biochemical responses in athletic and non-athletic individuals. MethodsFifty-two male participants (endurance athletes, strength athletes, and controls) underwent two maximal exercise tests: the anaerobic Wingate test and the aerobic Bruce treadmill test. Blood and stool samples were collected at multiple time points for biochemical analysis and metagenomic sequencing. Blood markers were correlated with shifts in microbiome composition and function. ResultsWhile most biochemical parameters showed similar trends across all groups post-exercise, SPARC and adiponectin levels showed distinct responses depending on the exercise modality. The strength group showed unique microbiome associations with blood markers after the Wingate test. Baseline enrichment of specific bacteria (Clostridium phoceensis and Catenibacterium spp.) was associated with an inhibited response to the Bruce test in strength athletes. ConclusionsThe integration of metagenomic and blood serum analyses reveals that exercise modality and training background elicit complex physiological and biochemical responses mediated by the gut microbiome. These findings suggest that specific microbial species may play significant roles in recovery and adaptation processes following acute exercise. Further research with larger cohorts is needed to validate these findings and explore microbiome-targeted interventions to improve performance and recovery.

microbiology↗

bioRxiv2023

Microbiome Features Associated with Performance Measures in Non-Athletic and Athletic Individuals

The influence of human gut microbiota on health and disease is now well established. Therefore, it is not surprising that microbiome research has found applications within the sports community, hoping to improve health and optimize performance. Every comparison study found new species or pathways that were more enriched in elites than in sedentary controls. In addition, sport-specific and performance-level-specific microbiome features have been identified. However, the results remain inconclusive and indicate the need for further assessment. In our study, we conducted two interventions, anaerobic (Wingate Anaerobic Tests (WAnTs)) and aerobic (Bruce Treadmill Test), on fit non-athletic but physically active controls and athletic strength (training professional sports which increase anaerobic efforts such as weightlifting, powerlifting, and bodybuilding) and endurance (training professional sports which increase aerobic efforts such as race walking, long-distance running, or ski running) individuals to compare sport-specific and training-specific responses. While we did not identify any differences in alpha and beta diversity or significant differential abundance of microbiome components at baseline, we noted that one-third of the species identified were unique to either group. Longitudinal analysis of samples (pre- and post-intervention) revealed an abundance of Alistipes communis in the strength group during the WAnT intervention and 88 species with notable differences between groups during the Bruce Test intervention. SparCC recognized Bifidobacterium longum and Bifidobacterium adolescentis, short-chain fatty acid producers with probiotic properties, as species strongly associated with VO2max. Ultimately, we identified several taxa with different baseline abundances and longitudinal changes when comparing individuals based on their VO2max, average power, and maximal power parameters. Our results confirmed the health status of the individuals involved in the study, based on previous assumptions about microbiome health. Furthermore, our findings indicate that microbiome features are associated with better performance measures previously identified in elite athletes.

microbiology↗