Effect of a 24-week supervised concurrent exercise intervention on fecal microbiota diversity and composition in young sedentary adults: The ACTIBATE randomized controlled trial
Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: BACKGROUND: Numerous physiological responses to exercise are observed in humans, yet the effects of long-term exercise and varying intensities on the diversity and composition of human fecal microbiota remain unclear. We investigated the effect of a 24-week supervised concurrent exercise intervention, at moderate and vigorous intensities, on fecal microbiota diversity and composition in young adults. METHODS: This ancillary study was based on data from the ACTIBATE randomized controlled trial (ClinicalTrials.gov ID: NCT02365129), and included adults (aged 18-25 years, 70 % female) that were randomized to (i) a control group (CON: no exercise, n = 20), (ii) a moderate-intensity exercise group (MOD-EX, n = 21), and (iii) a vigorous-intensity exercise group (VIG-EX, n = 20). Fecal samples were collected before and after the 24-week exercise intervention, and the diversity and composition of the fecal microbiota were analyzed by 16S rRNA sequencing. Inferential functional profiling of the fecal microbiota was performed and correlations between microbial changes and cardiometabolic outcomes were assessed. RESULTS: Exercise did not modify beta or alpha diversities regardless of the intensity (all P ≥ 0.062). The relative abundance of the Erysipelotrichaceae family (Bacillota phylum) (-0.3 ± 1.2 %; P = 0.031) was however reduced in the VIG-EX group. Coprococcus was the only genus showed a significant difference between MOD-EX and VIG-EX after the intervention, with its relative abundance increasing in MOD-EX (+0.4 ± 0.6 %; P = 0.005). None of these changes were related to the exercise-induced cardiometabolic benefits (all P ≥ 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: In young adults, a 24-week supervised concurrent exercise program, at moderate and vigorous intensities, resulted in minor changes in fecal microbiota composition, while neither alpha nor beta diversities were affected. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov ID: NCT02365129.
Source: Clinical Nutrition
Authors: Borja Martinez-Tellez, Huiwen Xu, Lourdes Ortiz-Alvarez, Carmen Rodríguez-García, Milena Schönke, Lucas Jurado-Fasoli, Francisco J. Osuna-Prieto, Juan M.A. Alcantara, Francisco M. Acosta, Francisco J. Amaro-Gahete, Gert Folkerts, Ramiro Vilchez-Vargas, Alexander Link, Julio Plaza-Diaz, Angel Gil, Idoia Labayen, Sonia Fernandez-Veledo, Patrick C.N. Rensen, Jonatan R. Ruiz
Institutions: Leiden University, Universidad de Granada, Leiden University Medical Center, University of Almería, Tufts University, Jean Mayer Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging, Universidad Pública de Navarra (UPNA), Instituto de Innovación y Sostenibilidad en la Cadena Agroalimentaria, Universidad de Navarra, University of Turku, Turku University Hospital, Turku PET Centre, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Instituto de Investigación Biosanitaria de Granada, Utrecht University, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Otto-von-Guericke-Universität Magdeburg, Universidad Internacional de La Rioja, Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red Diabetes y Enfermedades Metabólicas Asociadas, Institut de Recerca Biomèdica Catalunya Sud, Hospital Universitari Joan XXIII de Tarragona, Universitat Rovira i Virgili
Language: English
Topic: Gut microbiota and health
Subfield: Molecular Biology
Domain: Life Sciences
Open Access status: hybrid
Estimated APC paid: $3,320
Funders: AstraZeneca, Consejería de Economía, Conocimiento, Empresas y Universidad, Junta de Andalucía, Fundación Iberoamericana de Nutrición, Anglo-Israel Association, European Commission, Academy of Finland, Ministerio de Educación, Cultura y Deporte, Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad, Universidad de Granada, Consejería de Conocimiento, Investigación y Universidad, Junta de Andalucía, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, European Regional Development Fund, Otto von Guericke University Magdeburg, European Social Fund
Awards: G114808452, G1474068909, G1526658588, G1555541029, G2315855325, G2513589567, G2997304622, G3108991359, G31132177, G328878395, G3674569794, G4076093923, G4679388155, G5575665504, G5724657902, G5760308772, G5901839911, G6067049332, InFLAMES: Innovation Ecosystem based on the Immune System, G7635670927, G8044380299, G809080551, G8406445, Proyecto ACTIBATE: Activating Brown Adipose Tissue through Exercise. Efectos de un programa de ejercicio sobre la actividad y cantidad de tejido adiposo marrón en adultos jóvenes con sobrepeso y obesidad: Estudio randomizado controlado, G8685247044
OpenAlex ID: W4409464917