Author(s): Morgado, Micaela C. ; Sousa, Mónica ; Marques, Cláudia ; Coelho, André B. ; Costa, Júlio A. ; Seabra, André
Date: 2023
Persistent ID: https://hdl.handle.net/10316/112248
Origin: Estudo Geral - Universidade de Coimbra
Subject(s): childhood obesity; gut microbiota; physical activity; nutrition; football; Bifidobacterium; Prevotella; Firmicutes-to-Bacteroidetes ratio
Childhood obesity continues to represent a growing challenge, and it has been associated with gut microbiota dysbiosis. This study examines the gut microbiota composition in overweight and obese school children and assesses whether a 12-week multidisciplinary intervention can induce changes in the gut microbiota. The intervention, which combined recreational football and nutritional education, was implemented among 15 school children, aged 7-10 years, with a Body Mass Index ≥ 85th percentile. The children were assigned into two groups: Football Group (n = 9) and Nutrition and Football Group (n = 6). Faecal samples were collected at the beginning and end of the program and analysed by sequencing the 16S rRNA gene. Over the intervention, a significant decrease was found collectively for Bifidobacterium genera (p = 0.011) and for Roseburia genera in the Football Group (p = 0.021). The relative abundance of Roseburia (p = 0.002) and Roseburia faecis (p = 0.009) was negatively correlated with moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA), while Prevotella copri was positively correlated with MVPA (p = 0.010) and with the daily intake of protein (p = 0.008). Our findings suggest that a multidisciplinary intervention was capable of inducing limited but significant positive changes in the gut microbiota composition in overweight and obese school children.
Portuguese Football Federation, Portugal Football School
