Microbiome: A Discrete Influencer of Running Behavior?
Authors: Lampeter Thomas , Rusling Matthew , Love Charles , Fung Calvin , Lee Chia‐Ming , Bongiorno Christian , Karim Anisha , Points Lauren , Lee Hayden , Moffat Devin , Yuan LiLian 
Published: May 2022

Intro

Literature establishes conserved changes in the gut microbiome (GMB) correlated with behavior.1 Using voluntary running, we tested if GMB variability explains differences in voluntary exercise using a rat model.

Methods

Cohabitating male rats were randomized into running (n=8) and sedentary (n=3) groups and placed in individual cages. Running wheel access was withheld for a week. The running group received free access to the wheels for 27 days. Daily and cumulative distances were recorded with weekly fecal collection for 16s amplification and sequencing. Terminal seven‐day distances stratified rats into high (8341‐10209 m/wk) and low (1763‐5201 m/wk) groups. Analysis was done in QIIME2 and R.

Results

At randomization, alpha‐diversity (AD) was similar between sedentary, low, and high runners (ANOVA, F = 2.812, Pr(>F) = .065). Shannon diversity showed significant correlation with daily distance and an interaction running subgroup (high v. low, MLM, int = ‐6,778, Shannon est. = 2498±118, low running interaction = ‐2135±217). Across all samples, there was a significant correlation between AD and distance (Pearson correlation, p <0.001, corr = 0.41).

Fixed slope random intercept modelling showed a significant relationship between distance and phyla abundance. Verrucomicrobia (MLM, int = 3610, est. 294925±142844, p = 0.048), and Saccharibacteria (MLM, int = 3342, est. 3830783±1245092, p = 0.005) showed significant increases in beta‐diversity. Actinobacteria (MLM, int 5634, est. =45608±13682) was negatively associated with distance.

Discussion

Our findings that voluntary distances run was associated with increases in microbiome richness supports the importance of ecosystem diversity to support host function. This is consistent with previous research which establishes the role of increasing AD with broad improvements in performance.

Decreased Verrucomicrobia is associated with the development of metabolic diseases, which are associated with decreased running behaviors.2 Verrucomicrobia and Actinobacteria impact gut homeostasis by modulating permeability, immune and inflammatory responses at the mucosal level.3 Analysis is ongoing and may influence these findings. Further research is needed on the impact of these changes to determine their effect on the overall health of the organism.

References

1. Denou, E., et al. (2016). High‐intensity exercise training increases the diversity and metabolic capacity of the mouse distal gut microbiota during diet‐induced obesity.

American Journal of Physiology‐Endocrinology and Metabolism, 310(11). https://doi.org/10.1152/ajpendo.00537.2015

2. Zhang, T., et al. (2019). Akkermansia Muciniphila is a promising probiotic. Microbial Biotechnology, 12(6), 1109–1125. https://doi.org/10.1111/1751‐7915.13410

3. Binda, C., et al. (2018). Actinobacteria: A relevant minority for the maintenance of gut homeostasis. Digestive and Liver Disease, 50(5), 421–428. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.dld.2018.02.012