Effects of a combined energy restriction and vigorous‐intensity exercise intervention on the human gut microbiome: A randomised controlled trial
Abstract
Metabolic health improvements in response to exercise and energy restriction may be mediated by the gut microbiome, yet causal evidence in humans remains limited. We used a 3‐week exercise and energy restriction intervention to examine changes to the gut microbiome in otherwise healthy sedentary men and postmenopausal women with overweight/obesity. Intervention participants (n = 18) reduced habitual energy intake by 5000 kcal/week and expended 2000 kcal/week in addition to habitual physical activity through treadmill walking at 70% V̇O2Peak. Control participants (n = 12) maintained their usual lifestyle. Participants underwent dual‐energy X‐ray absorptiometry (DEXA), and samples of faeces, fasted venous blood, subcutaneous adipose tissue and skeletal muscle were collected. Faecal DNA was sequenced and profiled using shotgun metagenomics, Kraken2/Bracken and Human Microbiome Project Unified Metabolic Analysis Network 2 (HUMAnN2). The intervention significantly reduced body mass (mean Δ ± SD: –2.6 ± 1.5 kg), fat mass (–1.5 ± 1.3 kg), fasted insulin (–23.5 ± 38.1 pmol/l), leptin (–10.6 ± 7.3 ng/ml) and total cholesterol (–0.70 ± 0.42 mmol/l) concentrations, and also improved insulin sensitivity (HOMA2%S (homeostatic model of assessment)). Despite these significant metabolic changes the gut microbiome was unchanged in terms of α and β diversity and relative abundance. Thus, despite clinically meaningful improvements in body composition and metabolic health, we found no evidence…
How strong is the evidence?
Evidence Hub reads this as a randomized trial, done in people. Its evidence level is 3 of 5 (Moderate · trial / cohort / secondary analysis). Trials without a large randomized design, cohorts and secondary analyses give moderate evidence. Reported size: 18 participants or records.
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