Does intermittent fasting associated with aerobic training influence parameters related to the gut-brain axis of Wistar rats?

• DOI: 10.1016/j.jad.2021.06.028
• Publication Date: 2021-06-19T14:48:47Z
• Authors: Naís Lira Soares; Victor Augusto Ma...; Hassler Clementin...; Kamila Sabino Bat...; Daniele Melo de S...; Marcos dos Santos...; Mirian Graciela d...; Marciane Magnani; Adriano Francisco...; Jailane de Souza ...
• Keywords: Aerobic Exercise

Intermittent fasting (IF) and aerobic training have demonstrated beneficial effects on intestinal microbiota composition, but little is known about benefits to the brain through the gut-brain axis. The present study aimed to evaluate gut-brain axis parameters in Wistar rats submitted to IF associated or not with aerobic training.Male rats were evaluated for training performance and then randomized into 4 groups of ten: sedentary control (SC), trained control (TC), sedentary intermittent fasting (SIF), and trained intermittent fasting (TIF), and evaluated during four weeks.The adiposity index was similar among the TC (2.15±0.43%), SIF (1.98±0.69%) and TIF (1.86±0.51%) groups, and differed from SC (2.98±0.80%). TIF had lower counts of lactic acid bacteria, while SIF had higher counts of Bifidobacterium and Enterococcus. TIF had the highest amount of formic acid in faeces (44.44±2.40 μmol/g) and lowest amount of succinic acid in the gut (0.38±0.00 μmol/g), while SIF had the highest propionic acid amount in the faeces (802.80±00.33 μmol/g) and the lowest amount of lactic acid in the gut (0.85±0.00 μmol/g). TIF demonstrated a tendency towards an anxiolytic effect and SIF showed potential antidepressant effect. IF caused different brain and intestinal injuries. TIF rats presented a diffuse and intense marking of IL-1β in the hippocampus.IF and aerobic exercise, associated or not, can modulate parameters related to the gut-brain axis of Wistar rats, and some benefits may be related to the amounts of organic acids.