The Muscle Mag
Research findings revealed a connection between species such as Bifidobacterium longum and Bifidobacterium adolescentis with all performance measures, particularly with VO2max.
Furthermore, beneficial short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) producing species were linked to maximal power during high-intensity exercise.
“No study has yet compared the microbiome of trained (non-elite) and untrained individuals,” stated Polish researchers. “Our results confirm that individual health status aligns with assumptions about microbiome health. Additionally, our findings suggest that microbiome characteristics are associated with enhanced performance as previously seen in elite athletes.”
The study, funded by the Polish National Science Centre, was published in the journal Plos One.
Microbiome and exercise performance
Recent research on the gut microbiome has identified various factors that can influence its composition, including sleep, diet, and age. An imbalance in the gut microbiome can lead to unfavorable outcomes and may be linked to immunoregulatory disorders.
While the benefits of physical activity are well-known, it has been noted that exercise can result in both short-term and long-term changes in the microbiome to promote better health outcomes. Studies have indicated that the microbiome may also play a role in sporting performance, with modifications in its composition potentially leading to targeted improvements in performance.
Past studies have highlighted that a higher alpha diversity and specific species such as Faecalibacterium prausnitzii, Roseburia hominis, Akkermansia muciniphila and Eubacterium may be associated with enhanced athletic performance. However, research results vary, and compositions differ based on individual factors and exercise type.
Therefore, this current study aimed to further explore the gut microbiota and its response to maximal intensity exercise interventions in endurance and strength athletes.
Study details
In a case-control study, 52 healthy, active men were recruited and categorized into endurance, strength, and control groups. Each group underwent faecal microbiome DNA composition analysis before and after two exercise tests.
The tests included a repeated 30-second all-out Wingate test (WT) for explosive and high-intensity fitness evaluation and the Bruce Treadmill Test for cardiorespiratory fitness assessment. Two weeks separated each test.
An abundance of Alistipes communis was noted in the strength group during the WT, and there were significant differences in 88 species between groups in the Bruce Test.
Comparison of individual parameters such as VO2 max, average power, and maximal power revealed various taxa with differences in baseline abundances and changes over time.
Bifidobacterium longum and Bifidobacterium adolescentis species were linked to all fitness measures, especially with VO2max. Additionally, there was an increase in abundance in the high VO2 max group during the Bruce Test. Conversely, negative associations were identified between Bacteroides species and VO2 max.
Positive correlations were also found between common SCFA producers (Blautia wexlerae, Eubacterium rectale and Intestinimonas timonensis) and maximal power during the WT.
“SCFAs can serve as an additional metabolic substrate, making them beneficial for endurance sports-related training,” the researchers noted. “Moreover, butyrate has favorable effects on skeletal tissues, which may explain the association between butyrate producers and power output.”
It was emphasized that further data, including metabolomics, would shed light on individual response to interventions and underlying mechanisms of action.
Source: Plos One
doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0297858
“Microbiome features associated with performance measures in athletic and non-athletic individuals: A case-control study”
Authors: Kinga Humińska-Lisowska et al.
