The Effects of 6 Weeks of Resistance Training on the Gut Microbiome and Cardiometabolic Health in Young Adults with Overweight and Obesity

ABSTRACT INTRODUCTION Obesity is a known risk factor for the development of insulin resistance and other cardiometabolic disorders. Recently, the gut microbiome has been associated with obesity and subsequent health complications. Exercise has been regularly utilized as a therapeutic intervention to treat obesity and its associated comorbidities. This study examined the effects of a 6-week resistance training exercise program (RT) on the diversity, composition, and metabolic pathways of the gut microbiome. METHODS Sedentary young adults (age 18-35 years) with overweight and obesity (BMI 25-45 kg/m 2 ) were recruited to participate in this randomized controlled trial. Participants were randomized to RT (n=16), a 6-week resistance training program (3 days/week), or control (CT) (n=16), a non-exercising control. Main outcomes of the study included gut microbiome measures (taxa abundances, diversity, and predicted function) and cardiometabolic outcomes (blood pressure (BP) and glucoregulation). RESULTS Increased abundances of Roseburia , a short chain fatty acid (SCFA) producer and predicted starch and sucrose metabolism pathway were observed over 6 weeks (W6) with RT in comparison to CT (group × week, p<0.05, q<0.25). RT also induced higher abundance of microbial flagellar assembly, a pathway involved in cell motility, at W6 compared to CT (group × week, p<0.05, q<0.25). Moreover, RT resulted in higher QUICKI and lower diastolic BP at W6 compared to CT (BL-adjusted p<0.05). CONCLUSION This study provides preliminary evidence that resistance training increases abundance of selected SCFA producers and microbial pathways and improves cardiometabolic health. Additionally, the associations of cardiometabolic indicators with the microbial community structure warrants further investigation.