Gut Microbiota Composition Is Related to Cardiorespiratory Fitness in Healthy Young Adults

in International Journal of Sport Nutrition and Exercise Metabolism

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Ryan P. Durk San Francisco State University

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Esperanza Castillo San Francisco State University

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Leticia Márquez-Magaña San Francisco State University

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Gregory J. Grosicki Tufts University
Georgia Southern University

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Nicole D. Bolter San Francisco State University

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C. Matthew Lee San Francisco State University

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James R. Bagley San Francisco State University

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DOI:
https://doi.org/10.1123/ijsnem.2018-0024
Keywords:
Bacteroidetes; BodPod; body composition; Firmicutes; microbiome; nutrition; VO2max
In Print:
Volume 29: Issue 3
Page Range:
249–253
Restricted access

Bacteria residing in the human gastrointestinal tract has a symbiotic relationship with its host. Animal models have demonstrated a relationship between exercise and gut microbiota composition. This was the first study to explore the relationship between cardiorespiratory fitness (maximal oxygen consumption, VO2max) and relative gut microbiota composition (Firmicutes to Bacteroidetes ratio [F/B]) in healthy young adults in a free-living environment. Twenty males and 17 females (25.7 ± 2.2 years), who did not take antibiotics in the last 6 months, volunteered for this study. VO2max was measured using a symptom-limited graded treadmill test. Relative microbiota composition was determined by analyzing DNA extracted from stool samples using a quantitative polymerase chain reaction that specifically measured the quantity of a target gene (16S rRNA) found in Firmicutes and Bacteroidetes. Relationships between F/B and potentially related dietary, anthropometric, and fitness variables were assessed using correlation analyses with an appropriate Bonferroni adjustment (p < .004). The average F/B ratio in all participants was 0.94 ± 0.03. The F/B ratio was significantly correlated to VO2max (r = .48, p < .003), but no other fitness, nutritional intake, or anthropometric variables (p > .004). VO2max explained ∼22% of the variance of an individual’s relative gut bacteria as determined by the F/B ratio. These data support animal findings, demonstrating a relationship between relative human gut microbiota composition and cardiorespiratory fitness in healthy young adults. Gastrointestinal bacteria is integral in regulating a myriad of physiological processes, and greater insight regarding ramifications of exercise and nutrition on gut microbial composition may help guide therapies to promote human health.

Durk, Bolter, Lee, and Bagley are with the Dept. of Kinesiology, San Francisco State University, San Francisco, CA. Castillo and Márquez-Magaña are with the Health Equity Research Lab, San Francisco State University, San Francisco, CA. Grosicki is with the Nutrition, Exercise Physiology, and Sarcopenia Laboratory, Jean Mayer USDA Human Nutrition Research Center, Tufts University, Boston, MA; and the Dept. of Health Sciences and Kinesiology, Biodynamics and Human Performance Center, Georgia Southern University (Armstrong Campus), Savannah, GA.

Address author correspondence to James R. Bagley at jrbagley@sfsu.edu.
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