INTRODUCTION: Obesity is a known risk factor for the development of insulin resistance and other cardiometabolic disorders. Recently, the gut microbiome has been associated with obesity and subsequent health complications. Exercise has been regularly utilized as a therapeutic intervention to treat obesity and its associated comorbidities. This study examined the effects of a 6-week resistance training exercise program (RT) on the diversity, composition, and metabolic pathways of the gut microbiome. METHODS: Sedentary young adults (age 18 to 35 years) with overweight and obesity (BMI 25 to 45 kg/m2) were recruited to participate in this randomized controlled trial. Participants were randomized to RT (n = 16), a 6-week resistance training program (3 days/week), or control (CT) (n = 16), a non-exercising control. Main outcomes of the study included gut microbiome measures (taxa abundances, diversity, and predicted function) and cardiometabolic outcomes (blood pressure (BP) and glucoregulation). RESULTS: Increased abundances of Roseburia, a short chain fatty acid producer were observed over 6 weeks (W6) with RT in comparison to CT (group x week, p < 0.05, q< 0.25). RT also induced marginal alterations in predicted microbial metabolic and cell motility pathways compared to CT (group x week, p < 0.05, q< 0.25). However, RT did not significantly impact overall microbial diversity. Furthermore, RT resulted in higher quantitative insulin-sensitivity check index and lower diastolic BP at W6 compared to CT (BL-adjusted p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: RT had mixed effects on the microbiome. While RT increased abundances of Roseburia and induced minor changes in microbial pathways, it is important to consider these changes in the context of the overall microbial stability.

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