Effects of intermittent fasting and physical exercise on the modulation of the gut microbiota, body composition and inflammatory process in obesity.

Author(s)

Gabriela Batitucci Miranda

• Document type: Doctoral Thesis
• Press: Araraquara. 0000-00-00.
• Institution: Universidade Estadual Paulista (Unesp). Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas. Araraquara
• Defense date: 2022-04-28
• Advisor: Ellen Cristini de Freitas

Abstract

Obesity is a chronic pathophysiological condition that progressively advances at an accelerated rate. Despite great efforts, the treatment of obesity is still an obscure field and the impacts of this disease on the clinical and public health perspective are urgent. Studies have demonstrated a fundamental role of the gut microbiota in the pathogenesis of obesity and discuss the impacts of diet and physical exercise on the microbiome profile. However, the mechanisms involved in these processes, referring to strategies such as intermittent fasting (IF) associated with physical training (HIIT), have not yet been explored. It is believed that intermittent fasting combined with physical exercise can promote a remodeling of the composition and function of the microbiota and that the present investigation may culminate in greater clinical clarification on the use of these strategies to mitigate the dysmetabolism of obesity mediated by the microbiota. Objective: Investigate whether or not intermittent fasting associated or not with high intensity physical training will promote changes in the composition and function of the intestinal microbiota in women with obesity. Methods: Thirty-six obese, sedentary women with no comorbidities, aged between 18 and 40 years, participated in the study and were randomly assigned to 3 groups: 1) intermittent fasting group associated with physical exercise (IF+EX, n = 15); 2) physical exercise group (EX, n = 11); and 3) intermittent fasting group (IF, n = 10). All volunteers performed pre and post-intervention collections and assessments, including anthropometry, food consumption, indirect calorimetry to assess resting energy expenditure (REE), body composition by BodPod®, blood collection for biochemical and inflammatory analyzes (Multiplex), stool collection for the sequencing analysis of the 16S rRNA gene of the intestinal microbiota and the faecal concentrations of short-chain fatty acids (SCFA) and physical tests (Shuttle Walking Test, multiple repetition and functional strength) for the groups with physical exercise. Results were expressed as mean ± standard deviation and two-way repeated measure ANOVA mixed model was applied to verify statistical differences (p<0.05), in addition to bioinformatics analysis and Sperman correlations. Results: There was a reduction in anthropometric measurements and in body fat and a gain in fat free mass only in the IF+EX and EX groups. These also showed improvement in aerobic capacity and muscle strength, with no changes in inflammatory parameters in all groups. The REE reduced in the IF group. Exercise increased fecal acetate concentrations, but there were no changes in the composition and functional profile of the microbiota, but this was correlated with SCFA, metabolic and inflammatory biomarkers. Conclusions: Subtle differences were observed in metabolic parameters only in groups that performed physical exercise, and IF alone did not show promising results. The interventions did not change the composition of the gut microbiota, but exercise may exert a modulating role on acetate production. IF+EX did not lead to substantial changes in the microbiota, however, evaluating these interventions over a longer period may contribute to further clarification. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 19/17947-7 - Effects of intermittent fasting and physical exercise on modulation of the gut microbiota, energy metabolism and inflammatory cytokines in Obesity
• Grantee: Gabriela Batitucci Miranda
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate