The effect of physical exercise and dairy probiotics (Lactobacillus casei) on gut microbiome in childhood cancer survivors

Gut microbial dysbiosis persists months after intensive cancer treatment in children and adolescents. This prospective study compared the intestinal microbiome of children 1-3 years after completion of Berlin-Frankfurt-Münster protocol (BFM)-based pediatric ALL (PALL) treatment and healthy controls. To induce a favorable shift in the bacterial composition of the intestines in PALL with gut microbiome disruptions, 8 weeks of physical activity and probiotic consumption were used. Blood analyses and 16S rRNA sequencing for the gut microbiome were performed on 16 pediatric cases and 16 healthy controls. Significant differences in bacterial diversity were found between pre- and post-intervention, respectively (Shannon index, 3.22±0.45 vs. 3.47±0.24, p=0.04; Simpson index, 0.10±0.05 vs. 0.06±0.02, p=0.02; and Chao1 index, 693.88±238.58 vs. 794.23±116.34, p=0.04). Furthermore, the increase in the relative abundance of Lactobacillus casei (5.04E-03±1.62E-02 vs. 2.92E-02±5.03E-02, p=0.04) and the increase in some strains of Veillonella, a bacterial genus recently linked to improved physical fitness, were identified. Promisingly, the exercise program combined with dairy probiotics increased bacterial richness and diversity.

Gut Microbiota and Serum Metabolites in Individuals with Class III Obesity Without Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: Pilot Analysis

Background: Gut microbial composition seems to change in association with prediabetes. The purpose of this prospective cross-sectional study was to compare the composition of gut microbiota and energy metabolites between individuals with class III obesity but without type 2 diabetes mellitus (OB) and healthy normal weight controls. Methods: The subjects of this prospective cross-sectional study were participants recruited from a previous clinical trial (No: NCT02325804), with intervention focused on weight loss. We recruited 19 OB [mean age ± standard deviation (SD) was 35.4 ± 7.0 years, mean body mass index (BMI) ± SD was 48.8 ± 6.7 kg/m²] and 23 controls (mean age ± SD was 31.7 ± 14.8 years, mean BMI ± SD was 22.2 ± 1.7 kg/m²). Their fecal microbiota was categorized using specific primers targeting the V1-V3 region of 16S rDNA, whereas serum metabolites were characterized by nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. Multivariate statistical analysis and Random Forest models were applied to discriminate predictors with the highest variable importance. Results: We observed a significantly lower microbial α-diversity (P = 0.001) and relative abundance of beneficial bacterium Akkermansia (P = 0.001) and the short-chain fatty acid-producing bacteria Eubacterium hallii (P = 0.019), Butyrivibrio (P = 0.024), Marvinbryantia (P = 0.010), and Coprococcus (P = 0.050) and a higher abundance of the pathogenic bacteria Bilophila (P = 0.018) and Fusobacterium (P = 0.022) in OB compared with controls. Notably, the Random Forest machine learning analysis identified energy metabolites (citrate and acetate), HOMA-IR, and insulin as important predictors capable of discriminating between OB and controls. Conclusions: Our results suggest that changes in gut microbiota and in serum acetate and citrate are additional promising biomarkers before progression to Type 2 diabetes. The non-invasive manipulation of gut microbiota composition in OB through a healthy lifestyle, thus, offers a new approach for managing class III obesity and associated disorders. ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT02325804.

Gut Microbiome Suffers from Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation in Childhood and Its Characteristics Are Positively Associated with Intra-Hospital Physical Exercise

Gut microbiome impairment is a serious side effect of cancer treatment. The aim of this study was to identify the effects of hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) treatment on gut microbiota composition in children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). Fecal microbiotas were categorized using specific primers targeting the V1-V3 region of 16S rDNA in eligible pediatric ALL patients after HSCT (n = 16) and in healthy controls (Ctrl, n = 13). An intra-hospital exercise program was also organized for child patients during HSCT treatment. Significant differences in gut microbiota composition were observed between ALL HSCT and Ctrl with further negative effects. Plasma C-reactive protein correlated positively with the pathogenic bacteria Enterococcus spp. and negatively with beneficial bacteria Butyriccocus spp. or Akkermansia spp., respectively (rs = 0.511, p = 0.05; rs = -0.541, p = 0.04; rs = -0.738, p = 0.02). Bacterial alpha diversity correlated with the exercise training characteristics. Therefore, specific changes in the microbiota of children were associated with systemic inflammation or the ability to exercise physically during HSCT treatment.

Effect of High-intensity Training and Probiotics on Gut Microbiota Diversity in Competitive Swimmers: Randomized Controlled Trial

BACKGROUND

Physical exercise has favorable effects on the structure of gut microbiota and metabolite production in sedentary subjects. However, little is known whether adjustments in an athletic program impact overall changes of gut microbiome in high-level athletes. We therefore characterized fecal microbiota and serum metabolites in response to a 7-week, high-intensity training program and consumption of probiotic Bryndza cheese.

METHODS

Fecal and blood samples and training logs were collected from young competitive male (n = 17) and female (n = 7) swimmers. Fecal microbiota were categorized using specific primers targeting the V1-V3 region of 16S rDNA, and serum metabolites were characterized by NMR-spectroscopic analysis and by multivariate statistical analysis, Spearman rank correlations, and Random Forest models.

RESULTS

We found higher α-diversity, represented by the Shannon index value (HITB-pre 5.9 [± 0.4]; HITB-post 6.4 [± 0.4], p = 0.007), (HIT-pre 5.5 [± 0.6]; HIT-post 5.9 [± 0.6], p = 0.015), after the end of the training program in both groups independently of Bryndza cheese consumption. However, Lactococcus spp. increased in both groups, with a higher effect in the Bryndza cheese consumers (HITB-pre 0.0021 [± 0.0055]; HITB-post 0.0268 [± 0.0542], p = 0.008), (HIT-pre 0.0014 [± 0.0036]; HIT-post 0.0068 [± 0.0095], p = 0.046). Concomitant with the increase of high-intensity exercise and the resulting increase of anaerobic metabolism proportion, pyruvate (p[HITB] = 0.003; p[HIT] = 0.000) and lactate (p[HITB] = 0.000; p[HIT] = 0.030) increased, whereas acetate (p[HITB] = 0.000; p[HIT] = 0.002) and butyrate (p[HITB] = 0.091; p[HIT] = 0.019) significantly decreased.

CONCLUSIONS

Together, these data demonstrate a significant effect of high-intensity training (HIT) on both gut microbiota composition and serum energy metabolites. Thus, the combination of intensive athletic training with the use of natural probiotics is beneficial because of the increase in the relative abundance of lactic acid bacteria.

The Efficacy of Short-Term Weight Loss Programs and Consumption of Natural Probiotic Bryndza Cheese on Gut Microbiota Composition in Women

Weight loss interventions with probiotics have favourable effects on gut microbiota composition and derived metabolites. However, little is known about whether the consumption of natural probiotics, such as Bryndza cheeses, brings similar benefits. The purpose of the study was to find the effect of short-term weight loss programs and Bryndza cheese consumption on the structure of the gut microbiota, microbiota-derived metabolites and body composition in middle-aged women. We conducted a randomised controlled intervention study. Twenty-two female participants with a body fat percentage ≥25% underwent a short weight loss program (4 weeks). Subjects were randomised to either the control or intervention group according to diet. The intervention group comprised 13 participants, whose diet contained 30 g of “Bryndza” cheese daily (WLPB). The control group comprised nine participants without the regular consumption of Bryndza cheese (WLP) in their diet. Both interventions lead to a significant and favourable change of BMI, body fat, waist circumference and muscle mass. Moreover, the relative abundance of Erysipelotrichales significantly increased in both groups. However, the relative abundance of lactic acid bacteria (Lactobacillales, Streptococcaceae, Lactococcus and Streptococcus) significantly increased only in the WLPB group. Furthermore, short-chain fatty acid producers Phascolarctobacterium and Butyricimonas increased significantly in the WLPB group. A short-term weight loss program combined with Bryndza cheese consumption improves body composition and increases the abundance of lactic acid bacteria and short-chain fatty acid producers in middle-aged women.