The influence of exercise training volume alterations on the gut microbiome in highly-trained middle-distance runners

Abstract

RESULTS: showed no significant changes in nutritional intake, alpha-diversity, or global microbial composition following HVolTr or TaperTr compared to NormTr (p's>0.05). Following HVolTr, there was a significant decrease in Pasterellaceae (p=0.03), Lachnoclostridium (p=0.02), Haemophilus (p=0.03), S. parasagunis (p=0.02), and H. parainfluenzae (p=0.03), while R. callidus (p=0.03) significantly increased. These changes did not return to NormTr levels following TaperTr. This study shows that the alpha-diversity and global composition of the gut microbiome were unaffected by changes in training volume. However, an increase in training volume led to several changes at the lower taxonomy levels that did not return to pre-HVolTr levels following a taper period.