The effects of 6 wk of resistance training on the gut microbiome and cardiometabolic health in young adults with overweight and obesity

• Published in: Journal of applied physiology (1985) Vol. 136; no. 2; pp. 349 - 361
• Main Authors: Cullen, John M A, Shahzad, Shahim, Kanaley, Jill A, Ericsson, Aaron C, Dhillon, Jaapna
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States 01.02.2024
• Subjects: cardiometabolic health; microbiome; obesity
• ISSN: 1522-1601
• DOI: 10.1152/japplphysiol.00350.2023

Obesity is a known risk factor for the development of insulin resistance and other cardiometabolic disorders. Recently, the gut microbiome has been associated with obesity and subsequent health complications. Exercise has been regularly utilized as a therapeutic intervention to treat obesity and its associated comorbidities. This study examined the effects of a 6-wk resistance training exercise program (RT) on the diversity, composition, and metabolic pathways of the gut microbiome. Sedentary young adults (age 18-35 yr) with overweight and obesity (BMI 25-45 kg/m ) were recruited to participate in this randomized controlled trial. Participants were randomized to RT ( = 16), a 6-wk resistance training program (3 days/wk), or control (CT) ( = 16), a nonexercising control. Main outcomes of the study included gut microbiome measures (taxa abundances, diversity, and predicted function) and cardiometabolic outcomes [blood pressure (BP) and glucoregulation]. Increased abundances of , a short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) producer were observed over 6 wk ( ) with RT compared with CT (group × week, < 0.05, < 0.25). RT also induced marginal alterations in predicted microbial metabolic and cell motility pathways compared with CT (group × week, < 0.05, < 0.25). However, RT did not significantly impact overall microbial diversity. Furthermore, RT resulted in higher quantitative insulin-sensitivity check index (QUICKI) and lower diastolic BP at compared with CT [baseline (BL)-adjusted < 0.05]. RT had mixed effects on the gut microbiome. Although RT increased abundances of and induced minor changes in microbial pathways, it is important to consider these changes in the context of the overall stability observed in the microbiome composition. Resistance training induces mixed changes in the gut microbiome, including an increase in the abundances of the genus and minor alterations in microbial pathways. However, it is vital to interpret these changes in light of the broader context, where we observe stability in the overall microbiome composition. This stability may be attributed to the microbiome's resilience, demonstrating its capacity to withstand short-term physiological stressors.