The effect of changes in gut microbiota due to habitual exercise on prevention of cardiovascular disease

2021 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 19K19962
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientists
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Basic Section 59020:Sports sciences-related
• Research Institution: Ritsumeikan University
• Principal Investigator: Uchida Masataka 立命館大学, 立命館グローバル・イノベーション研究機構, 助教 (40779063)
• Project Period (FY): 2019-04-01 – 2022-03-31
• Keywords: 腸内細菌 / 有酸素性運動 / 腸内環境 / ヘパトカイン

Outline of Final Research Achievements

It has been reported that obesity and abnormalities in the gut microbiota are associated with the onset of atherosclerosis, which is the underlying lesion of cardiovascular disease. Although it has been reported that exercise habits prevent atherosclerosis, it is unclear that the effect of changes in the gut microbiota on prevention of atherosclerosis by exercise habits. The purpose of this study was to clarify the effect of the gut microbiota on the prevention of atherosclerosis caused by exercise using pathological model mice. We used pathological model mice (ApoE knockout) treated with high fat diet and/or voluntary exercise, and then were observer with pathological of atherosclerosis and were analyzed gut microbiota composition. In conclusion, Voluntary exercise partially improved gut microbiota, and improvement of lipid metabolism in the liver due to an increase in lipid-related proteins in the liver.

Free Research Field

運動免疫

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

本研究成果から自発運動による肝臓での脂質代謝改善や血中脂質改善によってアテローム性動脈硬化発症が予防され、肝臓でのヘパトカイン増加や腸内細菌叢の部分的な改善が予防効果に関連する可能性が示された。また、腸内細菌叢の改善が単独で病態改善に作用するのではなく、運動との協調的に作用によって予防効果が発揮される可能性も示された。本研究成果は、健康科学や予防医学の観点から、健康な生活を送るために腸内環境の改善と持続した運動の実施が重要であることを示すものである。