Microbiome features associated with performance measures in athletic and non-athletic individuals: A case-control...

Area of Science:

• Microbiome research
• Exercise physiology
• Sports science

Background:

• Human gut microbiota influences health and disease.
• Microbiome research is gaining traction in sports for health and performance optimization.
• Previous studies suggest sport-specific and performance-level-specific microbiome features, but results are inconclusive.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate gut microbiome differences between strength athletes, endurance athletes, and physically active controls.
• To analyze longitudinal changes in the microbiome following acute exercise bouts.
• To identify microbiome associations with specific fitness parameters.

Main Methods:

• Case-control study design.
• Inclusion of strength athletes, endurance athletes, and a physically active control group.
• Two acute exercise bouts: Wingate Test (WT) for explosive power and Bruce Treadmill Test (BTT) for cardiorespiratory fitness.
• Analysis of gut microbiome diversity and species abundance at baseline and post-exercise.
• Correlation analysis between microbiome features and performance metrics (VO2max, average power, maximal power).

Main Results:

• No significant baseline differences in alpha and beta diversity or overall microbiome abundance between groups.
• One-third of identified microbial species were unique to each group at baseline.
• Longitudinal analysis revealed specific species (e.g., Alistipes communis) associated with strength athletes during WT.
• Significant between-group differences in 88 species were observed during the Bruce Test.
• Bifidobacterium longum and Bifidobacterium adolescentis were strongly associated with VO2max.
• Identified taxa with differing baseline abundances and longitudinal changes correlated with VO2max, average power, and maximal power.

Conclusions:

• Gut microbiome composition shows distinct features related to athletic populations and performance levels.
• Acute exercise induces longitudinal changes in the gut microbiome.
• Specific bacterial species, including Bifidobacterium strains, are associated with cardiorespiratory fitness (VO2max).
• Microbiome features are linked to enhanced athletic performance, aligning with previous findings in elite athletes.