Impact of Endurance Exercise on Gut Microbiota

Research Overview

A study published in Frontiers in Microbiology explored the influence of endurance exercise training on the composition of gut microbiota. The significance of gut microbiota on overall health and disease has gained recognition over the past decade, with research indicating that microbial imbalances can be linked to various health conditions.

Previous Findings and Research Gap

While animal studies have suggested that exercise can affect gut microbiota, the effects on humans remain uncertain. To address this gap, researchers from Finland and Spain investigated whether a six-week endurance exercise program could alter gut microbiota in overweight women. The collaboration involved the University of Jyväskylä, the University of Turku in Finland, and the Spanish health research organization FISABIO.

Study Results

The findings revealed that despite no significant weight loss among participants, endurance exercise produced several positive outcomes. Notably, there was a reduction in phospholipids and cholesterol levels in very-low-density lipoprotein (VLDL) particles. This reduction is important because VLDL transports lipids from the liver to peripheral tissues and can convert into low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, which is associated with cardiovascular risks.

Additionally, a decrease in vascular adhesion protein-1 activity was observed, which may lead to favorable anti-inflammatory effects, particularly in the vascular system. However, the researchers did not identify a specific mechanism underlying this observation.

Study Design and Methodology

The exercise intervention involved 17 overweight women, who typically led sedentary lifestyles. Over six weeks, these participants engaged in three training sessions per week on a bicycle ergometer, with heart rate monitoring to ensure appropriate exercise intensity. Throughout the study, other lifestyle factors, including diet, remained constant.

Conclusions and Future Directions

The researchers concluded that the six-week guided endurance exercise program successfully altered gut microbiota composition, even without significant changes to weight, body composition, or dietary habits. They suggest that the bacterium Akkermansia may be particularly responsive to exercise.

Further investigations are required to explore the effects of different types of exercise on gut microbiota. Additionally, longer and larger-scale studies are necessary to validate the findings of this research.

Author and References

Written by Jade Marie Evans, MPharm, Medical Writer.

References:
Manukka, E. et al. 2018. Six-Week Endurance Exercise Alters Gut Metagenome That Is Not Reflected in Systemic Metabolism in Over-weight Women. [Online]. [21 November 2018]. Available from: https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmicb.2018.02323/full

University of Jyväskylä. 2018. Endurance exercise training has beneficial effects on gut microbiota composition. [Online]. [21 November 2018]. Available from: https://www.jyu.fi/en/current/archive/2018/10/endurance-exercise-training-has-beneficial-effects-on-gut-microbiota-composition-1