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Published on: July 31, 2019
Exercise training modulates the gut microbiota profile and impairs inflammatory signaling pathways in obese children
Rocío Quiroga1, Esther Nistal1,2, Brisamar Estébanez2
1Complejo Asistencial Universitario (CAULE), León, Spain.
Insights
Childhood obesity intervention through combined exercise training improved gut microbiota and reduced inflammation in obese children. This physical activity approach offers a non-pharmacological therapy for pediatric obesity.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Endocrinology
- Microbiome Research
- Exercise Physiology
Background:
- Childhood obesity is a growing epidemic linked to metabolic syndrome and gut dysbiosis.
- Physical exercise is recognized for its potential to combat obesity and influence gut microbiota.
- Understanding the impact of exercise on the gut microbiome in obese children is crucial for developing effective interventions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effects of a 12-week combined strength and endurance training program on the gut microbiota and inflammation in obese pediatric patients.
- To analyze changes in anthropometric, biochemical, muscular strength, and inflammatory markers.
- To assess alterations in bacterial composition, functionality, and associated metabolic pathways.
Main Methods:
- Randomized controlled trial involving 39 obese children, divided into control and training groups.
- Evaluation of anthropometric and biochemical parameters, muscular strength, and inflammatory signaling pathways (NLRP3).
- Metagenomic sequencing and metabolomic analysis to determine gut microbiota composition and functionality.
Main Results:
- The exercise group showed reduced plasma glucose and increased dynamic strength compared to the control group.
- Metagenomic analysis revealed exercise counteracted obesity-associated bacterial profiles, decreasing Proteobacteria and increasing beneficial genera like Blautia.
- Metabolomic analysis indicated exercise-induced changes in short-chain fatty acids and sugars, correlating with microbiota shifts and inhibited NLRP3 pathway activation.
Conclusions:
- A 12-week exercise intervention positively modulated the gut microbiota profile in obese children, shifting it towards a healthier state.
- Exercise training effectively reduced obesity-related inflammation by inhibiting the NLRP3 signaling pathway, likely through microbiota modulation.
- Combined strength and endurance training represents a promising non-pharmacological therapeutic strategy for managing childhood obesity and its associated health risks.
Abstract:
Childhood obesity has reached epidemic levels and is a serious health concern associated with metabolic syndrome, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, and gut microbiota alterations. Physical exercise is known to counteract obesity progression and modulate the gut microbiota composition. This study aims to determine the effect of a 12-week strength and endurance combined training program on gut microbiota and inflammation in obese pediatric patients. Thirty-nine obese children were assigned randomly to the control or training group. Anthropometric and biochemical parameters, muscular strength, and inflammatory signaling pathways in mononuclear cells were evaluated. Bacterial composition and functionality were determined by massive sequencing and metabolomic analysis. Exercise reduced plasma glucose levels and increased dynamic strength in the upper and lower extremities compared with the obese control group. Metagenomic analysis revealed a bacterial composition associated with obesity, showing changes at the phylum, class, and genus levels. Exercise counteracted this profile, significantly reducing the Proteobacteria phylum and Gammaproteobacteria class. Moreover, physical activity tended to increase some genera, such as Blautia, Dialister, and Roseburia, leading to a microbiota profile similar to that of healthy children. Metabolomic analysis revealed changes in short-chain fatty acids, branched-chain amino acids, and several sugars in response to exercise, in correlation with a specific microbiota profile. Finally, the training protocol significantly inhibited the activation of the obesity-associated NLRP3 signaling pathway. Our data suggest the existence of an obesity-related deleterious microbiota profile that is positively modified by physical activity intervention. Exercise training could be considered an efficient nonpharmacological therapy, reducing inflammatory signaling pathways induced by obesity in children via microbiota modulation.
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