-Original-

Moderate-Intensity Exercise Improves Endothelial Function by Altering Gut Microbiome Composition in Rats Fed a High-Fat Diet

Honggang Yin^1,2, Junhao Huang² and Min Hu^1,3

¹School of Kinesiology, Shanghai University of Sport, Shanghai, China
²Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Sports and Health Promotion, Scientific Research Center, Guangzhou Sport University, Guangdong, China
³Department of Sports and Health, Guangzhou Sport University, Guangdong, China

Background: Obesity changes gut microbial ecology and is related to endothelial dysfunction. Although the correlation between gut microbial ecology and endothelial dysfunction has been studied in obese persons, the underlying mechanisms by which exercise enhances endothelial function in this group remain unclear. This study investigated whether exercise improves endothelial function and alters gut microbiome composition in rats fed a high-fat diet (HFD).
Methods: Obesity was induced by an HFD for 11 weeks. Whole-body composition and endothelium-dependent relaxation of mesenteric arteries were measured. Blood biochemical tests were performed, and gut microbiomes were characterized by 16S rRNA gene sequencing on an Illumina HiSeq platform.
Results: Exercise training for 8 weeks improved body composition in HFD-fed rats. Furthermore, compared with the untrained/HFD group, aerobic exercise significantly increased acetylcholine-induced, endothelium-dependent relaxation in mesenteric arteries (P < 0.05) and circulating vascular endothelial growth factor levels (P < 0.01) and decreased circulating C-reactive protein levels (P < 0.05). In addition, exercise and HFD resulted in alterations in the composition of the gut microbiome; exercise reduced the relative abundance of Clostridiales and Romboutsia. Moreover, 12 species of bacteria, including Romboutsia, were significantly associated with parameters of endothelial function in the overall sample.
Conclusions: These results suggest that aerobic exercise enhances endothelial function in HFD-fed rats by altering the composition of the gut microbiota. These findings provide new insights on the application of physical exercise for improving endothelial function in obese persons.

J Nippon Med Sch 2022; 89: 316-327

Keywords
exercise, obesity, gut microbiota, Romboutsia, endothelial function

Correspondence to
Min Hu, School of Kinesiology, Shanghai University of Sport, No. 399 Changhai Road, Yangpu District, Shanghai 200438, China
whoomin@aliyun.com

Received, July 27, 2021
Accepted, October 27, 2021