Comparative analysis of gut microbiome composition and function in elite endurance and sprint cyclists
Year: 2026
Type: dissertation
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: The human gut comprises a diverse community of microorganisms, collectively termed the gut microbiome, that play an essential role in host nutrition, pathogen defence, and immune response. While factors such as age, antibiotic use, and diet are well-established determinants of the gut microbiome, the impact of exercise is less understood. Preliminary evidence suggests that exercise may promote a gut microbiome enriched in health-associated bacteria and metabolites; however, prolonged and intensive training is associated with gastrointestinal issues. This pilot cross-sectional study compares the gut microbiomes of two elite athletic groups: endurance (n = 11) and sprint (n = 6) cyclists. The different physiological adaptations and training demands of each cycling category are hypothesised to cause differences in the gut microbiome. A single faecal sample was collected from each High Performance Sport New Zealand-carded cyclist during their general training period, alongside anthropometric data, weekly training load data, and a four-day dietary record. Shotgun metagenomics was employed to profile microbiome taxonomic composition and functional potential, with targeted gas chromatography-mass spectrometry used to quantify faecal short-chain fatty acids (SFCAs). Species-level beta-diversity differed significantly between endurance and sprint cyclists (PERMANOVA, p = 0.016), whereas alpha-diversity, functional potential (KEGG Orthology (KO)), and SCFA concentrations did not. The three data sets: (1) species-level relative abundance, (2) functional potential KOs, and (3) faecal SCFA concentration, were integrated in a multi-omic analysis using the integrative method DIABLO from mixOmics, revealing potential discriminatory features specific to each data set. Although clear functional differences between endurance and sprint cyclists were not observed, potentially due to small sample sizes, the significant difference in overall taxonomic composition suggests that training type may influence the gut microbiome structure of elite cyclists.
Author: Palinich, Nadija Olivija
Language: English
Topic: Gut microbiota and health
Subfield: Molecular Biology
Domain: Life Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W7163610164