Unveiling the impact of competition weight loss on gut microbiota: alterations in diversity, composition, and predicted metabolic functions
Background Competitive sports and sports nutrition, popular among amateur athletes aiming for a lean physique, have limited research on gut microbiota.Methods We conducted a 46-week study to analyze the consequences of fat loss and diet restrictions in 23 fitness athletes who prepared for a physique...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Taylor & Francis Group
2025-12-01
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| Series: | Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition |
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| Online Access: | https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/15502783.2025.2474561 |
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| author | Anastasiia Driuchina Ville Isola Juha J Hulmi Vera M Salmi Jukka Hintikka Juha P Ahtiainen Satu Pekkala |
| author_facet | Anastasiia Driuchina Ville Isola Juha J Hulmi Vera M Salmi Jukka Hintikka Juha P Ahtiainen Satu Pekkala |
| author_sort | Anastasiia Driuchina |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background Competitive sports and sports nutrition, popular among amateur athletes aiming for a lean physique, have limited research on gut microbiota.Methods We conducted a 46-week study to analyze the consequences of fat loss and diet restrictions in 23 fitness athletes who prepared for a physique competition. Body composition, dietary intakes, serum cytokines and chemokines, and fecal samples were analyzed.Results Fat loss through caloric restriction and aerobic exercise led to an increased phylogenetic diversity of gut microbiota and changes in the composition of gut microbiota, with Faecalibacterium, Lachnospiraceae, Bacteroides, and Intestinimonas showing altered abundances. Fat loss also changed the predicted microbial functions responsible for the metabolism of carbohydrates and amino acids. Consumption of energy, carbohydrates, fiber, vitamins and minerals, and various fatty acids decreased during the preparation for the competition, which was partly associated with changes in gut microbiota. Several cytokine levels decreased (IL1a, IL1b, IL10, and TFNα), and certain chemokine levels increased (GROa and RANTES). During the 23-week regain period after the competition, gut microbiota showed signs of recovery, with increased diversity compared to pre- and post-competition measurements. Most taxonomic changes returned to their baseline levels after the regain period.Conclusions The study highlights the dynamic nature of gut microbiota and its response to fat loss and regain in non-obese fitness/physique competitors and provides novel insights into how competitive sports and sports nutrition can influence the gut ecosystem. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-c42ffc1994f04b2d984eefc4de89330c |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 1550-2783 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-12-01 |
| publisher | Taylor & Francis Group |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition |
| spelling | doaj-art-c42ffc1994f04b2d984eefc4de89330c2025-08-20T03:05:52ZengTaylor & Francis GroupJournal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition1550-27832025-12-0122110.1080/15502783.2025.2474561Unveiling the impact of competition weight loss on gut microbiota: alterations in diversity, composition, and predicted metabolic functionsAnastasiia Driuchina0Ville Isola1Juha J Hulmi2Vera M Salmi3Jukka Hintikka4Juha P Ahtiainen5Satu Pekkala6University of Jyväskylä, Faculty of Sport and Health Sciences, Jyväskylä, FinlandUniversity of Jyväskylä, Faculty of Sport and Health Sciences, Jyväskylä, FinlandUniversity of Jyväskylä, Faculty of Sport and Health Sciences, Jyväskylä, FinlandUniversity of Jyväskylä, Faculty of Sport and Health Sciences, Jyväskylä, FinlandUniversity of Jyväskylä, Faculty of Sport and Health Sciences, Jyväskylä, FinlandUniversity of Jyväskylä, Faculty of Sport and Health Sciences, Jyväskylä, FinlandUniversity of Jyväskylä, Faculty of Sport and Health Sciences, Jyväskylä, FinlandBackground Competitive sports and sports nutrition, popular among amateur athletes aiming for a lean physique, have limited research on gut microbiota.Methods We conducted a 46-week study to analyze the consequences of fat loss and diet restrictions in 23 fitness athletes who prepared for a physique competition. Body composition, dietary intakes, serum cytokines and chemokines, and fecal samples were analyzed.Results Fat loss through caloric restriction and aerobic exercise led to an increased phylogenetic diversity of gut microbiota and changes in the composition of gut microbiota, with Faecalibacterium, Lachnospiraceae, Bacteroides, and Intestinimonas showing altered abundances. Fat loss also changed the predicted microbial functions responsible for the metabolism of carbohydrates and amino acids. Consumption of energy, carbohydrates, fiber, vitamins and minerals, and various fatty acids decreased during the preparation for the competition, which was partly associated with changes in gut microbiota. Several cytokine levels decreased (IL1a, IL1b, IL10, and TFNα), and certain chemokine levels increased (GROa and RANTES). During the 23-week regain period after the competition, gut microbiota showed signs of recovery, with increased diversity compared to pre- and post-competition measurements. Most taxonomic changes returned to their baseline levels after the regain period.Conclusions The study highlights the dynamic nature of gut microbiota and its response to fat loss and regain in non-obese fitness/physique competitors and provides novel insights into how competitive sports and sports nutrition can influence the gut ecosystem.https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/15502783.2025.2474561Fat lossphysique athletesdietsports nutritiongut microbiome |
| spellingShingle | Anastasiia Driuchina Ville Isola Juha J Hulmi Vera M Salmi Jukka Hintikka Juha P Ahtiainen Satu Pekkala Unveiling the impact of competition weight loss on gut microbiota: alterations in diversity, composition, and predicted metabolic functions Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition Fat loss physique athletes diet sports nutrition gut microbiome |
| title | Unveiling the impact of competition weight loss on gut microbiota: alterations in diversity, composition, and predicted metabolic functions |
| title_full | Unveiling the impact of competition weight loss on gut microbiota: alterations in diversity, composition, and predicted metabolic functions |
| title_fullStr | Unveiling the impact of competition weight loss on gut microbiota: alterations in diversity, composition, and predicted metabolic functions |
| title_full_unstemmed | Unveiling the impact of competition weight loss on gut microbiota: alterations in diversity, composition, and predicted metabolic functions |
| title_short | Unveiling the impact of competition weight loss on gut microbiota: alterations in diversity, composition, and predicted metabolic functions |
| title_sort | unveiling the impact of competition weight loss on gut microbiota alterations in diversity composition and predicted metabolic functions |
| topic | Fat loss physique athletes diet sports nutrition gut microbiome |
| url | https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/15502783.2025.2474561 |
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