A randomized controlled trial to unveil the influence of an exercise intervention on brain integrity and gut microbiome structure in individuals with HIV
Abstract
Objective Exercise intervention programs enhance physical fitness, cognition, neuroimaging measures, and alter the structure of the gut microbiome in individuals without HIV. However, interventional studies exploring the effects of exercise in persons with HIV (PWH) have not included neuroimaging or gut microbiome analyses. Design A randomized controlled trial conducted at Washington University in St. Louis, MO, USA. Methods 65 PWH (aged ≥40 years, self-reported sedentary lifestyle) were randomly assigned to a six-month cardiorespiratory and resistance training (EXS) or stretching control (SIS) intervention in a 2:1 ratio. Longitudinal change in cognition, cerebral blood flow (CBF), physical and cardiorespiratory fitness, and gut microbiome diversity and composition were examined among participants (n=62) who completed any portion of the intervention (ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT02663934). Results Better fitness and better cognitive performance were associated with greater phylogenetic diversity in gut microbiome composition at baseline. Longitudinal findings indicated slight but significant improvements in psychomotor speed and executive function, reductions in body mass index, improvements in physical fitness, and increased gut microbiome diversity. These changes were observed regardless of assigned intervention group. There were no observed changes in CBF for either group. Conclusions These findings highlight physical fitness as a modifiable factor in PWH that may improve…
How strong is the evidence?
Evidence Hub reads this as a randomized trial, done in people. Its evidence level is 2 of 5 (High · randomized trial). Randomized trials of a reasonable size are the strongest single-study design. Reported size: 62 participants or records.
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