College of Health Solutions, Arizona State University, Phoenix, AZ 85004, USA.
Center for Health Through Microbiomes, Biodesign Institute, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85281, USA.
Nutrients. 2024 May 30;16(11):1712. doi: 10.3390/nu16111712.
The current state of the literature lacks a clear characterization of gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms, gut microbiota composition, and general physical and mental wellbeing in well-trained athletes. Therefore, this study aimed to characterize differences in self-reported symptoms, gut microbiota composition, and wellbeing (i.e., sleep quality, mood, and physical (PHQ) and mental wellbeing) between athletes with and without GI symptoms. In addition, we assessed the potential impact of a 3-week multi-ingredient fermented whey supplement in the GI complaints group, without a control group, on the gut microbiota and self-reported GI symptoms and wellbeing. A total of 50 athletes (24.7 ± 4.5 years) with GI issues (GI group at baseline, GI-B) and 21 athletes (25.4 ± 5.3 years) without GI issues (non-GI group, NGI) were included. At baseline, there was a significant difference in the total gastrointestinal symptom rating scale (GSRS) score (24.1 ± 8.48 vs. 30.3 ± 8.82, = 0.008) and a trend difference in PHQ (33.9 ± 10.7 vs. 30.3 ± 8.82, = 0.081), but no differences ( > 0.05) were seen for other outcomes, including gut microbiota metrics, between groups. After 3-week supplementation, the GI group (GI-S) showed increased relative abundance ( < 0.05), reported a lower number of severe GI complaints (from 72% to 54%, < 0.001), and PHQ declined ( = 0.010). In conclusion, well-trained athletes with GI complaints reported more severe GI symptoms than an athletic reference group, without showing clear differences in wellbeing or microbiota composition. Future controlled research should further investigate the impact of such multi-ingredient supplements on GI complaints and the associated changes in gut health-related markers.
目前的文献缺乏对训练有素的运动员的胃肠道（GI）症状、肠道微生物群落组成以及整体身心健康的清晰描述。因此，本研究旨在描述有和无 GI 症状的运动员之间在自我报告的症状、肠道微生物群落组成和整体健康（即睡眠质量、情绪以及身体（PHQ）和心理健康）方面的差异。此外，我们还评估了在没有对照组的情况下，3 周多成分发酵乳清补充剂对 GI 主诉组的肠道微生物群落和自我报告的 GI 症状和整体健康的潜在影响。共有 50 名有 GI 问题的运动员（24.7 ± 4.5 岁，GI 组，基线时 GI-B）和 21 名无 GI 问题的运动员（25.4 ± 5.3 岁，非 GI 组，NGI）被纳入研究。在基线时，总胃肠道症状评分量表（GSRS）评分（24.1 ± 8.48 与 30.3 ± 8.82， = 0.008）存在显著差异，PHQ 也存在趋势差异（33.9 ± 10.7 与 30.3 ± 8.82， = 0.081），但两组之间在其他结果（包括肠道微生物群指标）方面没有差异（ > 0.05）。在 3 周的补充后，GI 组（GI-S）的 相对丰度增加（ < 0.05），报告的严重 GI 主诉数量减少（从 72%降至 54%， < 0.001），PHQ 下降（ = 0.010）。总之，有 GI 主诉的训练有素的运动员比运动参考组报告的 GI 症状更严重，但在整体健康或微生物群落组成方面没有明显差异。未来的对照研究应进一步调查此类多成分补充剂对 GI 主诉的影响以及与肠道健康相关标志物的变化。
