Diversity and complexity network of human gut microbiota of sedentary and active subjects

Sedentary lifestyle increases the incidence of chronic diseases. The composition of the gut microbiome was determined by 16S rRNA sequencing, and diversity and network interactions of gut microbiota were compared. Sedentary lifestyle was associated with a diet low in fiber and rich in sugars and processed meat, and with high visceral and total corporal fat composition. The diversity and complexity of the gut microbiota was lower in sedentary subjects than in active peers. Whereas mutualism or cooperation interactions were similar between both groups, competitiveness was significantly higher in the active lifestyle group. The mutualism-competition ratio was moderate and positively associated with diversity in sedentary subjects, whereas this association was not significant in active subjects, indicating that there is a critical point in this ratio beyond which the stability of the microbial community is lost, inducing a loss of diversity. The gut microbiota of healthy subjects with a sedentary lifestyle is characterized by a low grade of diversity and a lower complexity network.