The impact of exercise and/or whey protein supplementation on the gut microbiome of sedentary adults: A prospective metagenomic and metabolomic analysis.. ExMET-Effects of Whey Protein and Exercise on the microbiome

Many components of modern living exert influence on the resident intestinal microbiota of humans with resultant impact on host health. For example, exercise-associated changes in gut microbial diversity, composition, and functional profiles have been described in cross-sectional studies of habitual athletes. However, this relationship is compounded by changes in diet that coincide with exercise such as dietary and supplementary protein consumption. To determine whether increasing physical activity and/or increased protein intake modulates gut microbial composition and function, we prospectively challenged healthy but sedentary adults with a short-term exercise regime, with and without concurrent daily whey protein consumption. Metagenomic and metabolomic-based assessments demonstrated modest changes in gut microbial composition and function following increases in physical activity. Significant changes in the diversity of the gut virome were evident in participants receiving daily whey protein supplementation. Results indicate that improved body composition with exercise is not dependent on major changes in gut microbial diversity. The diverse microbial characteristics previously observed in long-term habitual athletes may be a later response to exercise and fitness improvement.