Gut Microbiota and Exercise: What is the Impact?

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1 Gut Microbiota and Exercise: What is the Impact? Dr. Paul Cotter Teagasc Food Research Centre & APC

2 Our microbes - Some impressive facts Microbes are a part of human life, living on all the surfaces and cavities of the human body. - More microbes than human cells (10:1) - Microbe genes:human genes = 100:1 (regarded as the other genome) -Majority of these microbes are found in the gut Unlike our human genome, our microbial genome can be altered to improve health Some things that alter our gut microbes (gut microbiota) include diet (+ or -), probiotics (+), prebiotics (+), antibiotics (usually -)

3 Studying our microbes Only 30-40% of gut microbes can be grown ( cultured ) in the laboratory so using the old techniques that microbiologists have traditionally used in the laboratory provide a very false image Need for the development of culture-independent (i.e. DNA-based) approaches doesn t matter if we can grow the microbes or not. Field revolutionized through the advent of new DNA Sequencing technologies (largest DNA sequencing centre in the country is in Fermoy and is partially funded by the APC)

4 Impact of diet and exercise on gut microbes There is a relationship between our gut microbes and our BMI so, in order to study the impact of diet and exercise on gut microbes, we needed to take BMI out of the equation Solution: Study people with similar BMIs and different diets and exercise levels

5 How to assess exercise levels? Elevation of Creatine Kinase is an indication of damage to muscle The highest post-exercise serum enzyme activities are found after prolonged exercise such as ultradistance marathon running and other extreme sports

6 CK IU/L Creatine Kinase levels Staggeringly high in athletes!! Athlete Control BMI >28

7 Difference in diet Macronutrients Recommended intakes Athletes Controls BMI >28 Median Median Energy (Kcal) * 2801 Energy (kj) 18182* Protein (g) Fat (g) Saturated Fat (g) 44 > 33 Monounsaturated Fat (g) Polyunsaturated Fat (g) >10% TE Carbohydrate (g) Sugars (g) <10% TE Starch (g) Fibre (g) >25g Cholesterol (mg) <300mg % Total Energy from Protein 10-15% = % Total Energy from Total Fat 20-35% % Total Energy from Saturated Fat <10% 9 11 % Total Energy from Carbohydrate >50% >

8 Difference in Protein Top 5 food groups contributing to protein in all subjects. Athlete High BMI controls

9 Diversity of Microbes Low total diversity within the gut microbiota is generally regarded as less desirable and has been observed in children that are more susceptible to allergies as well as sufferers of IBD, IBS and C. difficile infection (among others) Alpha diversity How many species are in an environment? This high diversity was due to protein in diet and amount of exercise

10 Diversity of Microbes Beta diversity How different species are distributed across environments? Green = High BMI Controls Black = Athletes

11 Summary/Conclusion Elevated Creatine Kinase in athletes indicator of extreme exercise Athletes consume more macronutrients A greater % of the energy intake of athletes is provided through protein Higher diversity of gut microbiota in athletes Increasing protein intake and exercise correlate with increased diversity In addition to helping to control weight, exercise can have a beneficial influence on your health due to its impact on your gut microbes

12 Follow-on studies Recruited people that generally don t exercise Provide them with whey protein, exercise (Mardyke Arena) or both Will test how this impacts on their health and gut microbiota

13 Thanks to

14 Microbiota - diversity Green = High BMI Controls Black = Athletes Beta diversity

15 Microbiota - diversity