A1 Journal article (refereed)
Gut Microbiota and Serum Metabolome in Elite Cross-Country Skiers : A Controlled Study (2022)

Hintikka, J. E., Munukka, E., Valtonen, M., Luoto, R., Ihalainen, J. K., Kallonen, T., Waris, M., Heinonen, O. J., Ruuskanen, O., & Pekkala, S. (2022). Gut Microbiota and Serum Metabolome in Elite Cross-Country Skiers : A Controlled Study. Metabolites, 12(4), Article 335. https://doi.org/10.3390/metabo12040335

JYU authors or editors

Publication details

All authors or editors: Hintikka, Jukka E.; Munukka, Eveliina; Valtonen, Maarit; Luoto, Raakel; Ihalainen, Johanna K.; Kallonen, Teemu; Waris, Matti; Heinonen, Olli J.; Ruuskanen, Olli; Pekkala, Satu

Journal or series: Metabolites

eISSN: 2218-1989

Publication year: 2022

Publication date: 07/04/2022

Volume: 12

Issue number: 4

Article number: 335

Publisher: MDPI AG

Publication country: Switzerland

Publication language: English

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/metabo12040335

Publication open access: Openly available

Publication channel open access: Open Access channel

Publication is parallel published (JYX): https://jyx.jyu.fi/handle/123456789/80570

Abstract

Exercise has been shown to affect gut the microbiome and metabolic health, with athletes typically displaying a higher microbial diversity. However, research on the gut microbiota and systemic metabolism in elite athletes remains scarce. In this study, we compared the gut microbiota profiles and serum metabolome of national team cross-country skiers at the end of an exhausting training and competitive season to those of normally physically-active controls. The gut microbiota were analyzed using 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing. Serum metabolites were analyzed using nuclear magnetic resonance. Phylogenetic diversity and the abundance of several mucin-degrading gut microbial taxa, including Akkermansia, were lower in the athletes. The athletes had a healthier serum lipid profile than the controls, which was only partly explained by body mass index. Butyricicoccus associated positively with HDL cholesterol, HDL2 cholesterol and HDL particle size. The Ruminococcus torques group was less abundant in the athlete group and positively associated with total cholesterol and VLDL and LDL particles. We found the healthier lipid profile of elite athletes to co-occur with known health-beneficial gut microbes. Further studies should elucidate these links and whether athletes are prone to mucin depletion related microbial changes during the competitive season.

Keywords: athletes; endurance sports; skiers; gastrointestinal microbiota; metabolism; lipid metabolism; lipids

Free keywords: winter games; athletes; exercise; microbiology; metabolomics; lipids

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Ministry reporting: Yes

Reporting Year: 2022

JUFO rating: 1