Distinct exercise modalities on GUT microbiome in sarcopenic older adults: study protocol of a pilot randomized controlled trial

BackgroundSarcopenia is a progressive and age-related skeletal muscle disease related to adverse health outcomes and to an increased economic burden. Recent evidence pinpoints the human gut microbiota (GM) as a contributing factor in the development of sarcopenia via the gut-muscle axis. To date, no...

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Main Authors: Ana Sofia Merelim, Rodrigo Zacca, Daniel Moreira-Gonçalves, Paulo P. Costa, Liliana C. Baptista
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2025-03-01
Series:Frontiers in Medicine
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Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmed.2025.1504786/full
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author Ana Sofia Merelim
Rodrigo Zacca
Rodrigo Zacca
Daniel Moreira-Gonçalves
Daniel Moreira-Gonçalves
Paulo P. Costa
Paulo P. Costa
Paulo P. Costa
Liliana C. Baptista
Liliana C. Baptista
Liliana C. Baptista
author_facet Ana Sofia Merelim
Rodrigo Zacca
Rodrigo Zacca
Daniel Moreira-Gonçalves
Daniel Moreira-Gonçalves
Paulo P. Costa
Paulo P. Costa
Paulo P. Costa
Liliana C. Baptista
Liliana C. Baptista
Liliana C. Baptista
author_sort Ana Sofia Merelim
collection DOAJ
description BackgroundSarcopenia is a progressive and age-related skeletal muscle disease related to adverse health outcomes and to an increased economic burden. Recent evidence pinpoints the human gut microbiota (GM) as a contributing factor in the development of sarcopenia via the gut-muscle axis. To date, no study specifically analyzed the optimal type of exercise modality in older adults with sarcopenia considering the impact of GM composition in skeletal muscle mass and function. Therefore, the DEMGUTS study intents to explore the impact of three different exercise regimens on GM composition and gut-derived metabolites in older adults with sarcopenia.MethodsThis pilot single center three-arm parallel open-label randomized control trial (RCT) will randomly assign eligible participants to: (i) moderate aerobic exercise (AER); (ii) resistance exercise (RES); or (iii) concurrent exercise training (RES + AER). Participants will engage in a supervised center-based exercise intervention (12-weeks, 3 d/week, 60 min/d), and will be assessed at (i) baseline, (ii) end of intervention (14 weeks), and (iii) at close-out (26-weeks). The primary outcome will be the change in the relative abundance of Faecalibacterium prausnitzii and other short-chain fatty acid producing bacteria after the intervention (14-weeks). A set of complementary outcomes will also be assessed to broadly characterize the impact of each exercise intervention on body composition, skeletal muscle function, functional performance and general GM composition.ConclusionUnraveling the impact of these exercise regimens on GM is crucial to help clarify the optimal exercise modality to manage sarcopenia disease, contributing to clinical guidance and enhancing exercise prescription in older adults with sarcopenia.Clinical trial registrationhttps://clinicaltrials.gov/, identifier NCT06545123.
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spelling doaj-art-3a5a3e24e9cb4f99bf3442c1c6c000692025-08-20T03:15:38ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Medicine2296-858X2025-03-011210.3389/fmed.2025.15047861504786Distinct exercise modalities on GUT microbiome in sarcopenic older adults: study protocol of a pilot randomized controlled trialAna Sofia Merelim0Rodrigo Zacca1Rodrigo Zacca2Daniel Moreira-Gonçalves3Daniel Moreira-Gonçalves4Paulo P. Costa5Paulo P. Costa6Paulo P. Costa7Liliana C. Baptista8Liliana C. Baptista9Liliana C. Baptista10Faculty of Sports, Research Center in Physical Activity, Health and Leisure (CIAFEL), University of Porto (FADEUP), Porto, PortugalFaculty of Sports, Research Center in Physical Activity, Health and Leisure (CIAFEL), University of Porto (FADEUP), Porto, PortugalLaboratory for Integrative and Translational Research in Population Health (ITR), Porto, PortugalFaculty of Sports, Research Center in Physical Activity, Health and Leisure (CIAFEL), University of Porto (FADEUP), Porto, PortugalLaboratory for Integrative and Translational Research in Population Health (ITR), Porto, PortugalLaboratory for Integrative and Translational Research in Population Health (ITR), Porto, PortugalMultidisciplinary Unit for Biomedicine Research (UMIB), University of Porto, Porto, PortugalDepartment of Human Genetics, CSPGF, Instituto Nacional de Saúde Dr. Ricardo Jorge, Porto, PortugalLaboratory for Integrative and Translational Research in Population Health (ITR), Porto, PortugalFaculty of Sports Sciences and Physical Education, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, PortugalResearch Center in Sport and Physical Activity (CIDAF), University of Coimbra, Coimbra, PortugalBackgroundSarcopenia is a progressive and age-related skeletal muscle disease related to adverse health outcomes and to an increased economic burden. Recent evidence pinpoints the human gut microbiota (GM) as a contributing factor in the development of sarcopenia via the gut-muscle axis. To date, no study specifically analyzed the optimal type of exercise modality in older adults with sarcopenia considering the impact of GM composition in skeletal muscle mass and function. Therefore, the DEMGUTS study intents to explore the impact of three different exercise regimens on GM composition and gut-derived metabolites in older adults with sarcopenia.MethodsThis pilot single center three-arm parallel open-label randomized control trial (RCT) will randomly assign eligible participants to: (i) moderate aerobic exercise (AER); (ii) resistance exercise (RES); or (iii) concurrent exercise training (RES + AER). Participants will engage in a supervised center-based exercise intervention (12-weeks, 3 d/week, 60 min/d), and will be assessed at (i) baseline, (ii) end of intervention (14 weeks), and (iii) at close-out (26-weeks). The primary outcome will be the change in the relative abundance of Faecalibacterium prausnitzii and other short-chain fatty acid producing bacteria after the intervention (14-weeks). A set of complementary outcomes will also be assessed to broadly characterize the impact of each exercise intervention on body composition, skeletal muscle function, functional performance and general GM composition.ConclusionUnraveling the impact of these exercise regimens on GM is crucial to help clarify the optimal exercise modality to manage sarcopenia disease, contributing to clinical guidance and enhancing exercise prescription in older adults with sarcopenia.Clinical trial registrationhttps://clinicaltrials.gov/, identifier NCT06545123.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmed.2025.1504786/fullmuscle quantitymuscle qualityaerobic exerciseresistance exerciseconcurrent exercisegut microbiota
spellingShingle Ana Sofia Merelim
Rodrigo Zacca
Rodrigo Zacca
Daniel Moreira-Gonçalves
Daniel Moreira-Gonçalves
Paulo P. Costa
Paulo P. Costa
Paulo P. Costa
Liliana C. Baptista
Liliana C. Baptista
Liliana C. Baptista
Distinct exercise modalities on GUT microbiome in sarcopenic older adults: study protocol of a pilot randomized controlled trial
Frontiers in Medicine
muscle quantity
muscle quality
aerobic exercise
resistance exercise
concurrent exercise
gut microbiota
title Distinct exercise modalities on GUT microbiome in sarcopenic older adults: study protocol of a pilot randomized controlled trial
title_full Distinct exercise modalities on GUT microbiome in sarcopenic older adults: study protocol of a pilot randomized controlled trial
title_fullStr Distinct exercise modalities on GUT microbiome in sarcopenic older adults: study protocol of a pilot randomized controlled trial
title_full_unstemmed Distinct exercise modalities on GUT microbiome in sarcopenic older adults: study protocol of a pilot randomized controlled trial
title_short Distinct exercise modalities on GUT microbiome in sarcopenic older adults: study protocol of a pilot randomized controlled trial
title_sort distinct exercise modalities on gut microbiome in sarcopenic older adults study protocol of a pilot randomized controlled trial
topic muscle quantity
muscle quality
aerobic exercise
resistance exercise
concurrent exercise
gut microbiota
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmed.2025.1504786/full
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