Gut microbiota diversity associates with cardiorespiratory fitness in post‐primary treatment breast cancer survivors

New Findings

What is the central question of this study?

Does the link between cardiorespiratory fitness and gut microbiota diversity persist after adjusting for the potential effects of %body fat and activity‐related energy expenditure (AEE)?

What is the main finding and its importance?

This is the first study to examine the link between cardiorespiratory fitness and gut microbiota diversity while accounting for the underlying effects of %body fat and free‐living AEE. Results from the present work suggest cardiorespiratory fitness, not physical activity, is a superior correlate of gut microbiota diversity among post‐primary treatment, non‐metastatic breast cancer survivors.

Abstract

Cancer treatment uniquely triggers multiple physiologic shifts detrimental to overall health. Though previous research indicates a link between gut microbiota and cardiorespiratory fitness, it is unclear whether these findings are due to potential underlying effects %body fat or free‐living activity energy expenditure (AEE). Microbe composition of fecal specimens from 37 breast cancer survivors were determined using 16S microbiome analyses. Individual‐sample microbiota diversity (α‐diversity) and between‐sample community differences (β‐diversity) were examined. Peak oxygen uptake (V̇O_2peak) was estimated from a graded exercise test (GXT) consistent with the modified‐Naughton protocol, in which, exercise terminates at 85% age‐predicted heart rate max (HR_max). AEE was measured over 10‐days using doubly‐labeled water wherein %body fat was calculated from total body water. Pearson correlations revealed α‐diversity indices (Chao1, Observed Species, PD Whole Tree, Shannon) positively associated with V̇O_2peak (r = 0.34 to 0.51; p < 0.05) whereas %HR_max during Stages 1–4 of the GXT (r = ‐0.34 to ‐0.50; p < 0.05) and %body fat (r = ‐0.32 to ‐0.41; p < 0.05) were negatively associated with the same α‐diversity indices. Multiple linear regression models showed V̇O_2peak accounted for 22% and 26% of the variance in taxonomic richness (Observed Species) and phylogenic diversity after adjustment for %body fat and menopausal status. Unweighted UniFrac (β‐diversity) was significant for several outcomes involving cardiorespiratory fitness and significant taxa comparisons were found. Associations between gut microbiota and free‐living AEE were not found. Results from the present work suggest cardiorespiratory fitness, not physical activity, is a superior correlate of gut microbiota diversity.

This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved

from Physiology via xlomafota13 on Inoreader http://bit.ly/2X40qbu
via IFTTT