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The Association between Objectively Measured Physical Activity and the Gut Microbiome among Older Community Dwelling Men

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The journal of nutrition, health & aging

Abstract

Objectives

To determine the relationship between objectively measured physical activity (PA) and the gut microbiome among community-dwelling older men.

Design

Cross-sectional study.

Setting

Osteoporotic Fractures in Men (MrOS) cohort participants at Visit 4 (2014-16).

Participants

Eligible men (n=373, mean age 84 y) included participants with 5-day activity assessment with at least 90% wear time and analyzed stool samples.

Measurements

PA was measured with the SenseWear Pro3 Armband and stool samples analyzed for 16S v4 rRNA marker genes using Illumina MiSeq technology. Armband data together with sex, height, and weight were used to estimate total steps, total energy expenditure, and level of activity. 16S data was analyzed using standard UPARSE workflow. Shannon and Inverse Simpson indices were measures of (within-participant) α-diversity. Weighted and unweighted Unifrac were measures of (between-participant) β-diversity. We used linear regression analysis, principal coordinate analysis, zero-inflated Gaussian models to assess association between PA and α-diversity, β-diversity, and specific taxa, respectively, with adjustments for age, race, BMI, clinical center, library size, and number of chronic conditions.

Results

PA was not associated with α-diversity. There was a slight association between PA and β-diversity (in particular the second principal coordinate). Compared to those who were less active, those who had higher step counts had higher relative abundance of Cetobacterium and lower relative abundance of taxa from the genera Coprobacillus, Adlercreutzia, Erysipelotrichaceae CC-115 after multivariable adjustment including age, BMI, and chronic conditions. There was no consistent pattern by phylum.

Conclusion

There was a modest association between levels of PA and specific gut microbes among community-dwelling older men. The observed associations are consistent with the hypothesis that underlying health status and composition of the host microbiome are related.

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Acknowledgements

The Osteoporotic Fractures in Men (MrOS) Study is supported by National Institutes of Health funding. The following institutes provide support: the National Institute on Aging (NIA), the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS), the National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences (NCATS), and NIH Roadmap for Medical Research under the following grant numbers: U01 AG027810, U01 AG042124, U01 AG042139, U01 AG042140, U01 AG042143, U01AG042145, U01 AG042168, U01 AR066160, and UL1 TR000128. This manuscript is also the result of work supported with resources and use of facilities of the Minneapolis VA Health Care System. The views expressed in this article are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the position or policy of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs or the United States government.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Epidemiology and Community Health, University of Minnesota, 1300 S. 2nd St., Suite 300, Minneapolis, MN, 55454, USA

    Lisa Langsetmo & R. T. Demmer

  2. CBS Biotechnology Institute, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA

    A. Johnson

  3. University of Utah Health, Salt Lake City, UT, USA

    N. Fino

  4. Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, USA

    N. Fino & E. S. Orwoll

  5. VA Medical Center, Minneapolis, MN, USA

    K. E. Ensrud

  6. Department of Medicine, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA

    K. E. Ensrud & A. Shmagel

  7. Department of Medicine, Stanford University, Palo Alto, CA, USA

    A. R. Hoffman

  8. Department of Epidemiology, University of Pittsburg, Pittsburg, PA, USA

    J. A. Cauley

  9. Department of Nutrition, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA

    K. Meyer

  10. Division of Preventive Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA

    J. M. Shikany

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  1. Lisa Langsetmo
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Correspondence to Lisa Langsetmo.

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Langsetmo, L., Johnson, A., Demmer, R.T. et al. The Association between Objectively Measured Physical Activity and the Gut Microbiome among Older Community Dwelling Men. J Nutr Health Aging 23, 538–546 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12603-019-1194-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12603-019-1194-x

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